Bail denied for three Filipinos in espionage case
Three Filipinos facing trial here in an espionage case are unlikely to get bail over the next five months as a higher court conducting the trial has adjourned the hearing to October 27.
Manila has, meanwhile, denied involvement in spying activities of the three overseas Filipino workers.
The lawyer for the accused had urged the Court of Appeals on Monday to release them on bail on condition that they would not travel overseas.
The lawyer had gone in appeal against the verdict of a lower court in the case, and the first hearing of the court was to be held on Monday.
The lawyer argued in the court on Monday that since the trio is in jail for the past five years they be let out on bail, and a travel ban be imposed on them to ensure that they don’t leave the country.
But the judges turned down the plea and adjourned the hearing to October 27, local Arabic daily Al Raya reported yesterday.
A lower criminal court had earlier sentenced the main accused to death, while sentenced his two accomplices to life imprisonment.
The defence lawyer also urged the court not to enforce the verdict of the lower court, and ask the prosecution to bring evidence against the accused. The court admitted the lawyer’s plea.
The trio faces charges of spying and passing on to some intelligence officials in the Philippines, sensitive defence-related and economic information about Qatar.
The three Filipinos were employed in Qatar and the main accused has been here since 1993.
Meanwhile, the media in the Philippines yesterday carried reports of the country’s Department (Ministry) of Foreign Affairs denying that the government was engaged in any espionage.
Read more at The Peninsula
The bias and racist news around media should stop! Espionage or spying as used in the the articles is a very strong to use. Anyways, Filipinos in general work here for a living and effective on that whatever field of work their in. So don't be saddened by this bad news.
Can't imagine the feeling they been through. The agony of their family back home...They left their love ones for a better future, only to be on that kind of situation....no more chance to go home.
A 3rd world country like Philippines has a lot of problems to solve in their own country i.e. poverty, unemployment, etc. so the verdict of espionage & economic sabotage does not make any sense. Maybe the court is just trying to cover up a larger issue here which involves their own citizen. Only God knows. Praying for the trio & the judges as well.
A very seroius case . Lets see what happens after this.
Who knows