Kenyan 'shabu mule' gets lawyer

CEBU, Philippines - The Kenyan national who was arrested for transporting three kilos of shabu to Cebu finally has a lawyer.

Lawyer Darryl Amante confirmed that he will represent Asha Atieno Ogutu during the trial of the case for violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for transporting dangerous drugs.

Amante told The FREEMAN that Ogutu’s brother, Victor, reportedly called him and asked if he can be his sister’s lawyer. He clarified that the Kenyan consulate has no hand on the matter.

“Maybe Victor got my number in Manila,” Amante said.

Amante said he will prove to the court that his client is innocent of the crime.

“She has no knowledge of bringing shabu which was located inside her bag and besides it is not her bag, she cannot be liable with that,” Amante said.

Amante said he will present Ogutu’s passport, visa and travel documents from Dubai to Cebu during the pre-trial conference of the case slated on October 27, 2011.

He said he is constantly in touch with his client.

“She is fine inside the jail at Lapu-Lapu City Jail and everything is okay,” Amante said.

Ogutu was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation on September 29 at the Mactan Cebu International Airport following a tip from the NBI central office in Manila. Ogutu was on board Qatar Airways Fight 656 from Doha, Qatar.

Ogutu claimed she did not know about the shabu as the bag was handed to her by a certain Josh in Bernin when she was still in Africa. She said she knows Josh but they are not close.

Earlier, during the arraignment of the case, Ogutu pleaded not guilty to the charge before Judge Toribio Quiwag of Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 25 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Since she did not have a lawyer yet at that time, Quiwag appointed lawyer Ricardo Amores from the panel of lawyers in court to assist Ogutu during the arraignment process.

Amante was the private prosecutor in the case against Norwegian national Sven Erik Berger and fiancée Karen Esdrelon, the former suspects in the kidnap-slay of six-year-old Ellah Joy Pique. The two were later cleared of charges for lack of evidence. (FREEMAN)