Detained American, facing human trafficking case, found dead inside NBI-7 cell

[Chris Duffy 1,257]

NBI-7 Regional Director Patricio Bernales said that Jessie Finny apparently took his own life, after he was arrested at his residence at Camella Homes in Barangay Lawaan, Talisay City for alleged human trafficking activities.

 

Bernales said that an NBI agent, who checked on Finny inside his cell on Tuesday morning, found an unconscious Finny hanging inside the cell with one end of a belt tied around his neck and the other end on a bar on the ceiling.

 

He was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center where doctors there declared the American dead on arrival.

“Our agents served him (Finny) a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court in Talisay City for violating the Anti-Trafficking of Persons Act (RA No. 9208, and the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act (RA No. 7610),” said Bernales of how they arrested Finny on Monday evening.

 

They confiscated eight electronic gadgets, such as smartphones and tablets, a variety of toys, costumes intended for children, and a luggage full of film equipment such as cameras and production lights.

 

“But so far, we haven’t found any evidence to really prove (that) he trafficked minors, such as lewd photos. We have to secure another warrant from the court to authorize the booting up of the devices of the deceased,” said Bernales.

 

He said that they conducted the operation against Finny after they received a letter this year from Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, chairperson of the Provincial Women’s Commission (PWC), asking them to check on the information about the foreigner’s alleged illegal activities.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/156482/detained-american-facing-human-trafficking-case-found-dead-inside-nbi-7-cell#ixzz50Qxe3ESb