Korean charged over Briton’s death

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has indicted a female Korean national for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and physical injuries after killing a British national in a vehicular accident over the weekend.

State prosecutor Rodulph Joseph Val Carillo recommended P30,000 bail bond for the temporary liberty of accused Soyoung Jeong.

Carillo has found probable cause to elevate the criminal complaint against Soyoung before the Regional Trial Court after the latter waived her right to a preliminary investigation.

The accused figured in the vehicular accident at Borbajo St. in Barangay Talamban last Saturday December 8 in the midnight. The accused was driving her Honda CRV Wagon with plate number YAU 828 when she bumped into the victims,  David Michael Jowett, 55,  and  Jett Fuentes, 11. Jowett, British national, died because of severe head injury while Fuentes suffered serious physical injuries.

The prosecutor’s office said that Soyoung was “negligent, reckless, and imprudent” and failed to take the “necessary precaution to prevent accident to persons and damage to property.”

In fact, the accused reportedly left the victims behind. She however surrendered later.

Antonio Navaja, 47, a resident of Sitio Capasanan, Casili Mandaue City, witnessed the incident. According to Navaja, the victims were crossing the highway when the vehicle driven by the accused hit them.

Navaja said the driver of the vehicle did not stop prompting him to report the incident to the Talamban Police Station. PO3 Renan Donaire said they responded to the incident.

Donaire said they found the vehicle at the residence of the accused in Tawason Mandaue City but the latter was no longer around. They later received information that Soyoung had surrendered at the Citom office.

 “We hurriedly proceeded to where they turned over to me the lady suspect driver in the person of Soyoung Jeong and brought her to our office for proper disposition,” Donaire’s affidavit read.

Jowett’s live-in partner Rebecca Gerollo and the child’s mother Rose Fuentes filed the criminal complaint against the Korean. (FREEMAN)