Marzans plead not guilty to detention raps

MANILA, Philippines - A couple accused of maltreating their former helper yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charges of serious illegal detention filed against them.

At the same time, Reynold and Analiza Marzan asked Judge Germano Francisco Legaspi of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 77 to allow them to post bail, saying the evidence against them was not strong and that they are not flight risks.

Apart from the charges of serious illegal detention, Analiza was also charged with two counts of attempted homicide before the RTC and seven counts of serious physical injury before the Metropolitan Trial Court.

The charges were based on a complaint of their former helper, Bonita Baran.

In filing the bail petition, the couple claimed they were deprived of their right to present countervailing evidence during the preliminary investigation conducted by the prosecutor.

Serious illegal detention is supposed to be a non-bailable offense, but a petition for bail could be filed if the accused believes the evidence against him is not strong.