A Toledo City court convicted an Iranian for using a pseudonym to misrepresent himself.
Hossein Malakooti, who introduced himself as Alex, was found guilty of violating the Anti-Alias Law and was sentenced to one year and six months imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a fine of P5,000.
In his ruling, Judge Albie Carmelo Pescadero of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) in Toledo City said Malakooti didn’t reveal his real name when asked by a representative of the Bureau of Immigration in 2013.
It was only when he was required to present his travel documents that he admitted that his registered name at the BI is Hossein Malakooti, not Alex Malakooti.
Under Republic Act 6085 otherwise known as the law regulating the use of aliases, “an alien who is baptized with a name other than what is registered in the BI must disclose not only his baptized name but also his registered name in any private or public transaction.”
Complaint
In August 2013, BI representatives and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) went to barangay Media Onse, Toledo City after receiving a complaint against Malakooti from the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC).
Malakooti, 30, and Mohsen Baraghoosh alias Rizah Baraghoosh were accused by a 16-year-old girl of rape.
Charges of rape against the two Iranians are pending in court, said NBI Supervising Agent Reynaldo Villordon. In an earlier interview, they denied raping the girl.
Malakooti also claimed that he preferred to use the name “Alex” when asked by a BI representative since it is his Christian name. He showed a baptismal certificate in court to prove that Alex is not an alias but his Christian name.
But the court said Malakooti is still liable for violating the law since he didn’t disclose his registered name in the BI when questioned by authorities.
Malakooti was married to a Filipina and is running a gold panning business in Toledo City.