South African charged with child abuse, rape

A South African national has been charged with qualified trafficking, child abuse and rape for allegedly forcing a 16-year-old girl to have sex with him inside his hotel room last month.

Prosecutor II Ma. Liza Jorda indicted Ashley Russell Joseph, 49, temporarily residing at a hotel along General Maxilom Avenue, Cebu City, for qualified trafficking in persons, child abuse, and four counts of rape.

"...based on the facts and evidence presented, there is a reasonable ground to believe that a crime (crimes) has been committed and that the accused is probably guilty thereof," Jorda stated.

No bail was recommended.

In her complaint affidavit, the16year-old girl alleged that she met Joseph through Facebook on August 28 and started communicating with him.

On September 3, she alleged that the accused invited her to go shopping and fetched her from her house. They stopped by Joseph’s hotel room to drop off the girl’s bag before they went shopping.

At about 6 p.m., they went back to the hotel and when they got there, she was allegedly forced to have sex with Joseph.

The minor claimed she was raped by the accused on September 3 and 4. She said she tried to get out of the hotel room but failed to do so because it was locked.

Based on the account of the aunt of the girl, Joseph suddenly arrived at their house at around 10 a.m. on September 3.

A few minutes later, her niece came downstairs and told her she will be going to a mall with the foreigner.

The aunt advised her niece not to go but the latter did not listen. Later, when the girl failed to return home, her aunt began to worry.

She asked their neighbors if anyone saw the taxi carrying the foreigner and her niece. A pedicab driver was able to get the number of the taxi which helped police trace where Joseph had taken the girl.

At about 3:45 p.m. on September 4, the minor was rescued by police accompanied by social workers. Joseph was arrested.

In the inquest proceeding, Joseph manifested to undergo preliminary investigation, but failed to submit a counter-affidavit within the allotted ten days.

Thus, Jorda resolved the complaint based on evidence from the victim and found probable cause to take Joseph to court.