Court drops raps vs man who stole cab, then demanded P30,000 ransom

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The robbery case filed against a  man who allegedly sought P30,000 in ransom in exchange for the taxi cab he stole two years ago has been dismissed by a local court after the complainant decided not to pursue the case.

In emailed documents to INQUIRER.net by the accused himself, Henri Joseph Roa, Assistant Prosecutor Ronald Torralba said that he could no longer prove beyond reasonable doubt Roa’s guilt without the active participation of the complainant.

Among the documents from the Quezon City Court was an executed and signed affidavit by the complainant who informed the prosecutor that he would no longer pursue the robbery charges against Roa, prompting the court to dismiss the charge.

In October 2012, Roa was arrested by police operatives in an entrapment operation where he demanded a P30, 000 “ransom” for the taxi cab he earlier stole.

Roa, armed with a gun, declared a holdup and took the driver’s cell phone and his day’s earnings worth around P2, 000.

Later that day, the suspect called the taxi company to say that he was willing to return the vehicle, a white Toyota Vios, in exchange for P30, 000.