Case Digest (G.R. No. 222965)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Ustadz Ibrahim Ali y Kalim, G.R. No. 222965, December 06, 2017, Supreme Court Third Division, Martires, J., writing for the Court.In an Information dated 17 December 1998, Ustadz Ibrahim Ali y Kalim (accused-appellant), together with Abdul Hassan and two others identified as "Jul" and "Amat" (at large), was charged with Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention under Article 267 of the Revised Penal Code. The incident was alleged to have occurred on or about 14 December 1998 in Zamboanga City, when the occupants of a blue Nissan vehicle — including the private complainant Christia Oliz y Eucogco (Oliz), her employers Antonio, Mary and Cherry Lim, and driver Rene Igno — were stopped near Edwin Andrews Airbase, boarded by three armed men who represented themselves as policemen, and driven toward Pitogo beach with the alleged intent to extort ransom; Oliz escaped and Ali was subsequently apprehended.
At trial before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 16, Zamboanga City (Criminal Case No. 15599), the prosecution presented six witnesses (including Oliz and several police officers) whose testimony recounted that the three men forced their way into the vehicle, ordered some occupants handcuffed, drove past the Sta. Maria police station, and only let the victims go at the seashore where Oliz escaped and identified Ali to bystanders prior to police arrival. The defense presented four witnesses (including Ali and family members) who claimed Ali had been coerced into boarding the vehicle and later sought to walk away before being seized and beaten by bystanders and police; Ali denied wielding a firearm or commanding the operation.
The RTC, in a decision dated 30 July 1999, found Ali guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention (Article 267, as amended by Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7659) and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua. Ali appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA), which, in CA-G.R. CR-HC No. 00473-MIN, a...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Whether the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of Serious Illegal Detention (Article 267, RPC).
- Whether the accused was identified with moral cer...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)