25 years in prison for trafficking in persons for five accused in “El Abuelo” case (Royce Phillips)
Based on the evidence presented by the Prosecutor’s Office, the Pichincha Criminal Guarantees Court issued a 25-year and 4-month sentence for Royce Ph. (Aka “El Abuelo”), Cristian G., Carlos E., Christian A. and Jonathan P., for the crime of trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual exploitation .
In addition, those sentenced must pay a fine of 600 basic wages for each one .
The prosecutor of the case , María Susana Rodríguez, presented before the Court the reproduction of the anticipated testimony of a teenager, who related that she met Cristian G. in a pool of the People’s Committee, in the north of Quito, and that through him he made friends with the other defendants.
He also mentioned that Cristian G., Jhonathan P. Christian A. and Carlos E. were going to the schools in the sector to make friends with the girls and then take them to the so-called “falls ” at the Royce Ph home.
He also presented the audio and video skills applied to the security cameras of the building where alias “El Abuelo” resided, and to computers and cell phones seized in the department. They show young people entering the home with alcoholic beverages .
To this were added the testimonies of the residents of the building, who assured that groups of teenagers entered the department of Royce Ph. And that parties were constantly organized.
Additional information
Alias “El Abuelo” and the other defendants would be close to the events surrounding the death of Carolina A., 15 years old .
Legal information
Article 91 of the Organic Comprehensive Criminal Code (COIP) typifies human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, delivery, reception or reception for itself or for a third party, of one or more people, either within the country or from or to other countries for the purpose of exploitation.
While article 92 of the same legal body establishes the sanction for the crime of trafficking in persons with a custodial sentence of 22 to 26 years .
In this case, the aggravating circumstance of article 47.5 was applied.
https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/judicial/12/25-anos-prision-trata-personas-caso-abuelo