Iranian national charged over counterfeit P50 bill

CEBU, Philippines - The Iranian national who was arrested in Barangay Tejero, Cebu City for buying food using fake P50 bill has been charged in court.

Cebu City Prosecutor Noel Cellona found probable cause and held Mahmoud Moghaggasi, 44, for trial for violating Article 168 of the Revised Penal Code or for illegal possession and use of false treasury or bank notes and other instruments of credit.

“…evidence adduced is sufficient to engender a well-founded belief that the respondent possessed and used P50 counterfeit bill in violation of Article 168 of the Revised Penal Court,” the resolution read.

Cellona recommended P6,000 bail for Moghaggasi.

The Iranian national was arrested on July 10, 2015 following the complaint of storekeeper Guadelyn Gajudo, 30.

Tejero barangay tanods Jonas Feguracion and Joel Tura alleged that while walking along M.J. Cuenco Avenue on the said date, Gajudo approached them and complained that she was a victim of counterfeit money.

She said the Iranian national bought biscuits and sardines at her store using fake P50 bill.

Together with Gajudo, the tanods then looked for Moghaggsi and eventually found him at Cuizon corner Lavilles Streets.

“We then introduced ourselves to Moghaggsi and explained to him Gajudo’s complaint,” the tanods said.

They were then able to recover an empty packet of biscuit Fita biscuits, a can of sardines and the P26 change from Moghaggsi.

Because there was a delay on the release of the certification from Central Bank certifying that the money taken from Moghaggsi was counterfeited, Cellona ordered for the suspect’s release.

He summoned Moghaggsi through lawyer Mariven Bonbon to file his counter-affidavit.

However, no counter-affidavit was submitted before Cellona’s office, prompting the prosecutor to resolve the complaint based on the evidence of Figuracion.  (FREEMAN)