Cedric Lee fined for kidnapping own child

MANILA, Philippines — A court in Mandaluyong City found businessman Cedric Lee guilty of kidnapping his child with actress Vina Morales in 2016.

Regional Trial Court Branch 277 Judge Anthony Fama ordered Lee to pay a fine of P300 and P50,000 in moral and nominal damages, respectively.

Fama said the action of Lee, who was granted visitation rights, in not immediately returning his daughter was “premeditated, intentional and malicious.”

Court records showed that Morales filed kidnapping charges against Lee after he failed to return their daughter to her custody from May 13 to 22 in 2016.

Morales said when their daughter was returned to her custody, she noticed that the child behaved differently.

Lee filed two counts of libel against Morales, saying he did nothing wrong when the child was in his care. The charges were dismissed.