A Swedish national is facing qualified trafficking charges over allegations that he sexually exploited a minor by taking advantage of her economic vulnerability.
Separate cases were filed last Tuesday before the Regional Trial Court against Lars Goran Wuttke for violation of Republic Act 9208 as amended or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
Wuttke is accused of taking advantage of the victim’s being a minor when he engaged her in prostitution, sexually exploited her, and recruited her to engage in sex with another foreign national in exchange for money and other considerations. The offense is qualified because of the victim’s age.
Prosecutor Ma. Johanna Desamparado-Calustre of the Office of the City Prosecutor found sufficient grounds to charge Wuttke of the offense of qualified trafficking after the Swede failed to file his counter-affidavit or any controverting evidence, despite the subpoena sent last March 11, 2016 to Wuttke’s address in Dau District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
The 15-year-old victim from Cebu City recounted in her affidavit that Wuttke approached her and her friend last January 15 and invited them out for a drink.
When the victim got drunk, Wuttke allegedly asked him to accompany him to the pharmacy pretending to buy medicine to make her feel better, but Wuttke brought the victim to a hotel in Osmeña Boulevard where he managed to have sex with her in exchange for cash.
He then set her up with another foreigner friend, who had sex with her for cash.
But Wuttke and his foreigner friend did not pay the victim at all.
Eventually, the victim’s mother learned of the incident and filed a complaint before the City Prosecutor’s Office.
In her resolution, Calustre said that prostitution, under RA 9208 as amended, refers to any act involving the use of a person by another, for sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct, in exchange for money, profit, or any other consideration and that the act of Wuttke falls under this definition.
“The act of respondent in having sexual intercourse with the private complainant who is a minor, 15 years of age, in exchange for money, clearly constitutes sexual exploitation and prostitution,” she said in her resolution.
“The act of the respondent in recruiting or offering the private complainant for his foreigner friend for sexual purposes in exchange for money is likewise a clear violation of RA 9208, as amended by RA 10364.”
No bail is recommended for the offense.