Supreme Court Upholds Life Sentences for Australian Human Trafficker

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

The Philippine Supreme Court has affirmed the life imprisonment sentences of Australian national Peter Gerald Scully and his Filipina accomplice, Carme Ann Alvarez, for their involvement in qualified trafficking under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act 9208). This decision, originally made in November 2024, was only made public in March 2025.

 

Scully and Alvarez each face a fine of PHP 5 million and must pay PHP 600,000 in damages for each victim. The ruling underscored that explicit pornographic evidence is not necessary for a human trafficking conviction.

 

The pair's conviction is rooted in a 2014 incident where Alvarez enticed two minors, aged 9 and 12, with promises of food and took them to a property rented by Scully. There, the girls were given alcohol, forced to undress, photographed, and subjected to sexual exploitation. Their ordeal was documented on a laptop. After four days, the victims escaped and alerted authorities.

 

Initially convicted by the Regional Trial Court in 2018, with the Court of Appeals upholding the decision in 2022, Scully and Alvarez appealed to the Supreme Court. They argued that their constitutional rights were violated, as they were allegedly prevented from presenting evidence, and contended that their actions did not meet the definition of trafficking.

 

 

 

The Supreme Court rejected these claims, confirming that the elements of trafficking were present as outlined by RA 9208. The law defines trafficking to include the coercive transportation or transfer of individuals for exploitation, such as prostitution or slavery, regardless of the victim's consent. Given the victims were minors, the case was categorized as qualified trafficking, meriting a life sentence.

 

The court also noted that the defendant's repeated absences and requests for hearing postponements led to a waiver of their right to present evidence. The Supreme Court concluded there was no violation of their constitutional rights, as opportunities to present their case had been duly granted.

 

This verdict reinforces the Philippines' commitment to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation, reported Phil Star.

 

-- 2025-03-25

 

 

[Harrisfan]

Bullet in the head be better

[TedG]

After reading about these crimes, this is a well-deserved sentence.