Hayden Kho Jr. indicted in sex video case

Criminal charges were filed Thursday against cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho Jr. in connection with his sex video with actress Katrina Halili that was uploaded on the Internet. A charge sheet filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) before the Pasig regional trial court indicted Kho for violation of Republic Act 9262 (anti-violence against women and children act). Kho can post bail, but if found guilty by the court, he could suffer a jail sentence of six to 12 years and a fine of not less than P100,000. A team of DOJ probers led by Senior State Prosecutor Emilie Fe delos Santos, head of the Task Force on Women and Children Protection, found that Kho’s acts of recording his sexual exploits with Halili and other women without their consent “bespoke of his betrayal of their trust and lack of respect for women." Citing lack of evidence, the panel dismissed the complaints against Dr. Vicky Belo, Kho’s now estranged girlfriend, and alleged co-conspirators Erick Johnston Chua, Mark Herbert Rosario and Princess Marie Velasco. In his defense, Kho admitted videotaping his sex session with Halili but denied responsibility for uploading the footage on the Internet.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV But according to the panel, the issue was not whether Kho was responsible for uploading the sex video on the Internet, but rather his act of stealthily videotaping his sexual encounter with the complainant. “(Kho) cannot simply justify said act with a disclaimer that the videotaping was not meant to be shown to anyone. He should own up and be responsible for his actions particularly when it affects another person’s right and dignity," said a decision of the DOJ probers. In the case of Belo, Chua, Rosario and Velasco, the panel said while they knew about Kho’s infidelity and the existence of the video tape containing his sexual exploits with other women, they were not involved in the recording of such tapes. It said their failure to report the existence of such tape to Halili does not hold them accountable as accessories. Belo and the three alleged co-conspirators, however, are still not off the hook. In its recommendation, the panel asked the justice secretary to direct the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct further investigation to determine who was responsible for the uploading of the sex video on the Internet. Halili said she was satisfied with the DOJ's findings, adding that she was looking forward to seeing case take its proper course. The videotape became a sensation in May when word spread that it was available on the Web. Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla attacked Kho in a speech in the Senate, sparking an inquiry that almost turned into a soap opera. Halili's tearful protestations as an innocent woman whose trust had been violated, Kho's claims that it was all about sex and drugs, and former police officer Abner Afuang's surprise appearance to splash a glass of water onto Kho's face all added drama to the case. - GMANews.TV