Olongapo
A WITNESS at the trial of a Briton charged with promoting child
prostitution in the Philippines testified today that the accused told
him to bring ''fetish gear'' to the country.
Fellow Briton Martin Cottingham told the court at the start of Michael
Clarke's trial that the defendant promised him an introduction to an
under-age girl in the Philippines.
Mr Cottingham, 30 the first prosecution witness, is a senior press
officer of the charity Christian Aid and was investigating reports of
Western paedophiles in the Philippines.
Mr Clarke, a 48-year-old tour agent from Eastbourne, has denied the
charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 40 years' imprisonment.
Mr Cottingham identified Mr Clarke in court. The accused snorted,
shook his head, and smiled during Mr Cottingham's 90-minute testimony.
''He's lying. He's lying,'' Clarke told reporters after the first day
of hearing.
The trial coincides with a Philippine Government crackdown on foreign
paedophiles preying on Filipino minors. The drive has netted about 10
foreigners in recent weeks, including Americans, Britons, and a
Frenchman.
Prosecutors presented to the court notes and brochures which Mr Clarke
was alleged to have sent Mr Cottingham in London to convince him to come
to the Philippines.
''Things to bring: camera, videocamcorder, fetish gear,'' according to
one note, which Mr Cottingham read in court.
He said another brochure offered tourists ''some of the most
outrageous happenings you will ever encounter''.
Mr Cottingham said he had called a telephone number listed in a
Philippine sex tour advertisement in an issue of the Exchange and Mart
magazine in March.
Mr Clarke then sent him explicit brochures and offered to procure a
girl, he added.
Mr Cottingham said Independent Television News discreetly videotaped
his transaction with Mr Clarke in the Philippines. Mr Cottingham and ITN
reporter Adam Holloway met him in Manila.
On April 29, in Angeles City, Mr Clarke introduced them to a Filipino
woman whom they were supposed to contact when they needed a young girl
for sex.
The resulting film, which was shown on British network television, was
also shown in court and prosecutor Florentino Floresta pointed to
footage of Mr Clarke telling the men: ''If you want young girls, you can
get young girls, 12 years old.''
The Philippines has about 20,000 child prostitutes, according to
official studies.
The trial continues.--Reuter/AP.
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