Turkish nationals charged for shoplifting

CEBU, Philippines - Three Turkish nationals were charged with theft before the Regional Trial Court after they were caught by the surveillance camera stealing assorted merchandise from a shop inside an upscale hotel almost a year ago.

The Cebu City Prosecutor's Office indicted Murat Altuntas, Seyner Ince Surhan and Sayan Gizem for stealing a piece of bra, wallet, baby dress and four pieces of expensive dresses amounting to of P15,399 from Caliente Swimwear and Apparel located inside an uptown hotel.

Shop owner Donie Jane Padillo said that on February 1, 2009, she received a call from her sales clerk informing her that their shop was victimized by three foreign“nationals who appeared to be of Indian or Iranian decent.

Padillo said they reported the incident to the police and to the hotel security as well.

Three days later, they were notified by the hotel security department that four people “were arrested in Mandaue City, three of whom matched the description of the suspects.

Padillo said they proceeded to the Mandaue City Police Station 2 where the suspects were held and there, her sales clerk positively identified those arrested as the ones who allegedly entered their shop on February 1, 2009 and took away several items.

They even recovered the wallet stolen from the shop from one of the accused. Aside from Padillo’s shop, several other shops, including department stores, were allegedly victimized by the suspect. - Fred P. Languido/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)