ABU DHABI // A Filipina and a Syrian man, who were acquitted of murdering the woman's elderly husband, have denied before the Court of Appeals that they were having an illicit relationship. ALG, 39, from the Philippines, and AAA, 42, from Syria, were on Dec 23 each sentenced to three years in jail for having illicit relations, after being acquitted of the premeditated murder of her husband, MHN, 70.
The Criminal Court of First Instance also ordered their deportation after serving their sentences. Lawyers for the defendants filed appeals separately this month. The appeal, initially due to start on Jan 14, was adjourned until this week. The judge adjourned the hearing until Feb 23 to hear the statements from the defendants' lawyers. After the hearing, ALG and AAA were sent back to Al Wathba Central Prison, where they have been kept since their arrest in June last year.
rruiz@thenational.ae
