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Police reportedly found images of child sexual abuse among documents recovered from Thomas Markle’s home in the Philippines.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) are reportedly searching cellphones, computer hard drives, digital storage cards and other property found at Meghan Markle’s father’s home in Cebu City last month.
Investigators have reportedly identified several files containing images of child sexual abuse and are working to determine who produced and possessed the material, and whether Mr. Markle was in the images. The times reported.
The newspaper said no formal complaint had been filed against Mr. Markle.
According to local media and reported by The Telegraph, Major General Wilson Asueta of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a press conference: “We were able to discover that there are files that include several CSEAM (Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act) documents. »
Philippine authorities launched an investigation into the 82-year-old last month after his son, Thomas Markle Jnr, allegedly discovered “hundreds” of child pornography images left at his father’s home when he left the country earlier this year.
Police obtained an arrest warrant last Thursday to look into the alleged stash of images, with Cebu regional prosecutor Graeme Elmido telling the BBC that Mr Markle Jnr was “categorical” about opening an investigation into the matter.
Mr Markle Jnr told The Sun he was “horrified” by what he had discovered and had “no choice” but to report his father, telling the newspaper: “I will never speak to my father again unless I am called to give evidence against him.”
His father, who had to return to the United States after suffering a stroke and blood clot that led to the amputation of his left leg, has strongly denied the accusations and called them “a pile of lies.”
“I am shocked, hurt and very upset that my son is making these accusations against me. I could never do what I am accused of. This is the worst thing I can be accused of,” he said.
A second stash of child sexual abuse images was also allegedly found in a warehouse Mr Markle rented near his former home in Rosarito, Mexico.
The Duchess of Sussex, separated from her father since 2018, said she was “deeply distressed” by these allegations.
In a statement last month, she said: “I am deeply distressed by the news that has come to light over the past 24 hours, and my thoughts are with all the children who may have been harmed.
“In 2018 a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Police and Royal and Specialist Protection. This letter was then shared with me. It contained disturbing and worrying allegations against my father and I was assured that they were being investigated.
She added: “I hope we can now understand that, despite the distortion of some media publications over the years, any distance from my father and my choice not to allow him to have contact with our children, was for one reason only: to protect them.
“I trusted that the authorities were doing the same for other families.
“While the scale of what has been uncovered is more sickening than anyone could ever imagine, I sincerely hope that justice is fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children. »
She reportedly wrote to her father last year to tell him she knew about the allegations and would never allow him to meet her grandchildren.
The Met Police referred the Independent Office for Police Conduct over its handling of the allegations after admitting it passed a letter to the Sussexes without informing other law enforcement agencies at the time.
Mr. Markle was reportedly transferred to a specialized care home for dementia patients in Florida on Friday, according to The Sun.
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