Model Deniece Cornejo and businessman Cedric Lee have been found guilty by the Taguig City regional trial court (RTC) guilty for the illegal detention for ransom of television host Vhong Navarro.
“It is all too apparent that the accused planned and premeditated to restrain Vhong Navarro to extort money from him. Proof of their agreement is inferred from their conduct before, during and after the commission of the crime disclosing common understanding between them relative to its commission,” reads the decision of Presiding Judge Mariam Bien of Taguig City RTC Branch 153.
The magistrate sentenced Cornejo, Lee, and their co-accused Ferdinand Guerrero and Simeon “Zimmer” Palma Raz to suffer reclusion perpetua as well as ordered them to pay, jointly and severally, Navarro PP100,000 as civil indemnity, P100,000 as moral damages, and P100,000 as exemplary damages.
“It must be recalled that the argument or justification of the accused in restraining complainant Navarro is that they affected citizen’s arrest because the latter was allegedly caught on top of Deniece Cornejo on January 22, 2014 and due to the alleged rape which happened on January 17, 2014,” Bien reminded.
“However, this Court is not persuaded in the arguments of the accused. The allegations of rape against complainant Navarro has been proven wrong,” she pointed out.
The magistrate also pointed out that the closed circuit television (CCTV) camera footage of Forbeswood where Cornejo owns a condominium unit where Navarro was detained showed her “giggling” while going down the elevator after the television host arrived on Jan. 22, 2014.
“This CCTV footage is inconsistent with the actuations and demeanor of Deniece who has just been violated,” said BIen.
“Moreover, Cornejo admitted that she and Vhong Navarro agreed to meet on January 20, 2014 at 10:30 in the evening in her condo. It is highly improbable that Deniece agreed to meet again the main who allegedly raped her on January 17, 2014,” she added.
The judge also finds it “unbelieveable that Deniece agreed to meet Vhong on the same date and time when Deniece and her co-accused and other friends were supposed to hang out.”
Contrary to the testimonies of Cornejo, Cedric Lee, and Bernice Lee, the magistrate also found that “there is no evidence to show that Deniece Cornejo ever reported to the security guards of the condominium that Vhong Navarro attempted to rape her.”
“Furthermore, Cedric Lee admitted in his testimony that he was kissing Deniece in the elevator after they had brought Vhong to the police station,” Bien said.
Apart from restraining him, Bien said “the accused inflicted serious physical injuries and threats to kill Navarro were made.”
“As to the issue of ransom or extorting money from Vhong Navarro, this court finds that the accused after restraining Vhong Navarro extorted money from the latter in exchange of the latter’s liberty and safety,” she said.
