German in sexual abuse case remains in jail

THE GERMAN national who was accused of sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl in Cordova town, Cebu  remains in jail contrary to an earlier report.

Although he  posted bail on two charges filed against him, Dietmar Karl Moenig still  faces  another  charge of qualified trafficking.

His lawyer Inocencio De La Cerna Jr.  filed a petition for bail which will still be heard on Aug. 18 by the the Regional Trial Court Branch 28 in Mandaue City.

Qualified trafficking is a non-bailable offense unless evidence of guilt against him is not strong.

Lawyer Noemi Truya-Abarientos said the case for qualified trafficking filed against Moenig keeps the foreigner behind bars.

“Although he had filed a petition for bail, he should remain in jail, because his plea has yet to be resolved by the court,” she said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

Abarientos reacted to a CDN report yesterday that  said Moenig already stepped out of jail after Judge Alexander Acosta of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 in Cebu City signed the release order of the accused.

Last Thursday, Moenig had paid a cash bond of P144,000 for  two counts of acts of lasciviousness and attempted rape.

But Abarientos clarified that the German could not be released from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center unless the Mandaue City court grants his petition for bail.

Moenig was arrested by the police in barangay Gabi, Cordova last Nov. 5 on accusations that he was involved in sex trafficking of minors.

Based on the police investigation,  the foreigner allegedly hired and received girls for prostitution.

With the assistance of the Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB), the Cordova Police rescued a 14-year-old girl inside Moenig’s rented house.

The victim admitted that she was sexually abused by the accused.