A carnapping suspect was acquitted and freed from jail following the dismissal of his case yesterday by the Regional Trial Court Branch 44 at the Halls of Justice, in Dumaguete City.

Acquitted was Alexis Cañete, 26, who was found out not to be the actual carnapper by Presiding Judge Candelario Gonzalez of RTC Branch 44. Court records show that on March 19, 2001, the red Honda Econo registered in the name of Godofredo Yong was carnapped while it was parked near the Garahe, by John Rey Bacario.

Due to a number of violations, it was flagged down by elements of the Traffic Management Office who did not know that it had been carnapped. It was then driven by Bacario who slipped away from the scene, records added.

Bacario, told Cañete, his friend, to get the motorcycle parked in front of the TMO office for refueling. Cañete did not know it was stolen. Gonzalez said he was surprised why no case was filed against Bacario who had actually carnapped the motorcycle, while Cañete was detained for almost six years, court records added.*

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