Case filed vs Maute leader’s wife submitted for resolution

Najiya Karon-Maute was the widow of Mohammad Khayyam Maute, one of the Maute brothers who led the siege of Marawi City on May 23, 2017. (Photo from CIDG-ARMM)

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has submitted for resolution the criminal case filed against the wife of one of the slain leaders of the Maute terror group.

During Wednesday’s preliminary investigation, Najiya Dilangalen Karon-Maute opted not to submit her counter-affidavit on the allegations of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines-The Judge Advocate General (AFP-TJAG).

The DOJ earlier ordered Najiya’s release for further investigation after the complainants failed to submit additional evidence.

The allegations against Najiya were based on the testimony of a certain Martino Elyana abducted in Padian, Marawi City. Elyana said he saw Najiya and her husband Mohammadhayan “Otto” Maute bringing food to members of the group at the Bato Mosque on June, 2017. He said he escaped the Maute lair on July 2017.

Najiya was arrested on Jan. 23, 2018 in Cotabato City.

The DOJ Task Force Marawi chaired by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Peter L. Ong said aside from the statement of Elyana, the military and the police failed to present additional evidence to support the allegation. /je

READ: DOJ orders release of Maute leader’s wife due to weak evidence