Tunisian in illegal drug raps posts bail

A TUNISIAN-Lebanese charged with alleged possession of illegal drugs was released from jail after posting P740,000 bail before the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Records from the RTC Branch 13 showed that the court has granted the application for bail of Ziad Tajourie for lack of evidence.

"The court cannot determine how much each of the packets of shabu (methamphetamine) weighed. The only thing that the court was informed is that the total weight of the shabu was 25.3038 grams," said RTC Branch 13 Judge Isaac G. Robillo Jr. in his order dated July 13.

Tajourie was charged with violation of Sections 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and 12 (Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) after he was arrested during a drug raid in Sobrecary Street on March 27.

Reports said Tajourie's apartment was also used as a sex den based on the testimonies of the ladies caught inside the house during the raid.

A total of eight packets of methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, with a total of 25.3038 grams were seized from Tajourie.

The City Prosecutor’s Office (CPO) recommended no bail for the Section 11 charge while P40,000 for the Section 12.

The court granted the respondent's petition and set a P700,000 bail for the Section 11 charge.

The order said the seized drugs were found inside the cabinet, in the car of the accused and in a safety deposit box, which was opened by a certain Janeth Fernandez since she knew the cabinet's security code.

Two packets of shabu were found inside a blue pouch bag placed inside the cabinet, another four packs found inside the deposit box, and two in the car.

The National Bureau of Investigation should have weighed the shabu separately to determine how much each pack weighs.

The court said the search on the vehicle, where the two packs of shabu were found, was not "authorized" since it was not mentioned in the search warrant as it was only directed to make a search inside the house.

"Moreover, there is generated doubt as to who is in constructive possession of the packets of shabu," the order said.

The court scheduled the initial trial of the case on October 1.