Iranians in rape case post P10K bail

TWO Iranians stepped out of jail after posting bail on charges of using fake names last Friday afternoon.

Hossein “Alex” Malakooting, 30; and Mohsen “Rizah” Baraghoosh, 38, each posted a P10,000 bail before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities in Toledo City.

But the court issued an advisory to law enforcement agencies reminding them that the two Iranians face a rape complaint before the Toledo City Prosecutor’s Office.

“The court just wants to apprise agencies about the rape case against the Iranians,” said Reynaldo Villordon, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent.

Malakooting and Baraghoosh were charged for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.

Villordon said the two Iranians were asked by the prosecutor to submit their counter-affidavits on the case.

So far, no hold departure order (HDO) or a watchlist order was issued against the two Iranians which would prevent them from leaving the country.

Malakooting and Baraghoosh were arrested by NBI agents last Thursday for purportedly not using their real names in signing a document concerning the rape complaint filed against them.

They were charged for violating Republic Act 6085 or the law regulating the use of aliases before the Toledo City Prosecutors’ Office. The case for using aliases is a bailable offense.

Regional NBI-7 Director Antonio Pagatpat earlier said the two Iranians also failed to show their travel documents.

In an interview, the two Iranians said they used the names Alex and Rizah when they came to the country.

They said the names of Alex and Rizah are common and easy to understand in the Philippines.

They said Alex and Rizah are their nick names.

The two Iranians also denied raping the 16-year-old girl, saying she is Baraghoosh’s girlfriend.

Two months ago, the victim and Baraghoosh met in a hardware store in Toledo City where they live.

Since then, they’ve been exchanging text messages with each other. They eventually became sweethearts.

Baraghoosh said there was one time when he and the victim slept together inside their rented apartment.

The victim claimed that she was threatened by the two Iranians and she sought assistance from the Provincial Women’s Commission. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol