Turkish court clears 5 Pinoys drug case

A Turkish court acquitted this week a Filipino ship captain and four of his crew of charges of smuggling marijuana into Turkey last May.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Friday night that the 14th criminal court in Istanbul found no evidence to substantiate the charges against the accused.

Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla said those cleared were Captain Reynaldo Derige, Second Officer Julio Cagampan, Chief Engineer Othoniel Bungalso, Chief Officer Alberto Jose and Bosun Franciscio Pontillas.Guinomla said he has asked Mrs. Ana Maria Cristina Oben-Nazareno, Vice President of Wallem Maritime Services, Inc., to help coordinate the early repatriation of Capt. Derge and his crew with the shipping agent in Istanbul.

The case against Derige and his crew stemmed from the discovery of marijuana inside metal containers and attached to the bottom of the ship “Federal Fuji" that they were manning.Court records showed that the marijuana was discovered when the ship docked in Turkey last May 11, and was raised in a shipyard for routine maintenance.It was then that Captain Derige saw the metal container and called the attention of authorities.

The court gave weight to Derige’s gesture in acquitting him and the other seafarers.Guinomla sent Attaché Douveylito Tangcay to Istanbul to coordinate with the lawyers of Capt. Derige, the representatives of the shipping agencies and immigration authorities to render consular assistance might be required. - GMANews.TV

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