South Korean pastor Si Young Oh or Steve Oh, was found guilty by the Supreme Court (SC) of qualified trafficking in persons over the recruitment of minors to his church under pretenses resulting in forced labor.
In a decision promulgated on June 5, the Court found Oh guilty beyond reasonable doubt for violating the Republic Act (RA) 9208 or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.
According to the Court, the pastor belongs to the Korean Christian Presbyterian General Assembly and moved to the Philippines from South Korea in 2008. He later became the head of a theology school in Pampanga and offered courses leading to a Bachelor’s in Theology degree.
He also recruited minors, all at the age of 17, offering them apprenticeship, employment, and other benefits for free. The Court ruled that these were all done to gain the minors’ consent, resulting in forced labor or involuntary servitude.
“The Court found that the prosecution proved that Si Young Oh, personally or through an assistant, recruited and transported AAA, BBB, and CCC to become students in his church in Pampanga,” The SC said.
“He did this with fraud and deception, taking advantage of the minors’ vulnerability and exploiting their religious beliefs. Finally, instead of offering them theology classes as he promised, he forced them to do manual labor, practically for free,” it added.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) conducted a joint rescue operation in 2013, resulting in the apprehension of Oh and Lee Yeon Ho. Both parties pleaded not guilty and argued that the minors did the work voluntarily, adding that it was part of their religious training.
The SC ruled that regardless of whether religious convictions impelled the minors to voluntary work, their consent cannot negate or mitigate Oh’s criminal responsibility.
Section 10(c) of RA 9208 indicates the penalty of life imprisonment for Qualified Trafficking in Persons, with a fine of not less than Php 2 million. Additionally, no subsidiary imprisonment shall be imposed against Oh in case he is unable to pay the fine due to insolvency.
The pastor is also required to pay his three victims Php 500,000 as moral damages, and an additional Php 100,000 as exemplary damages.
A legal interest at 6% per annum from the date of the finality of the court’s decision will be earned until their satisfaction.
