The Takeo Provincial Court, on October 22, 2025, convicted a 52‑year‑old former chief monk from Wat Smoang Pagoda of sexual assault against children and sentenced him to two years in prison. The court also ordered the defendant to pay 4,000,000 riel (approximately USD 1,000) in compensation to two plaintiffs.
The case stems from complaints first filed in July 2017. According to police reports, the monk allegedly sexually exploited multiple boys aged between 9 and 17 when they visited the pagoda, often on their way to school, offering small sums of money to lure them. Some victims later reported receiving larger cash gifts after abuse, as well as clothes and mobile phones.
Five child victims filed complaints in 2017. On October 24, 2019, an investigating judge charged the suspect under Article 34 of the Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (LSHTSE) in relation to child prostitution. The defendant was not detained at that time but was ordered to appear when summoned. During this period, he remained active at the pagoda and, according to victims and families, often made indirect comments during religious ceremonies that increased community pressure and distress for the survivors.
Hearings resumed in late 2025. On September 27 and October 9, the Takeo court heard testimony from three male survivors and two plaintiffs. The accused was absent from those sessions. The children testified in court with legal support from LICADHO. Court observers said the children’s statements were clear and consistent, though aggressive questioning by the defense counsel appeared to upset and confuse the young witnesses at times. The hearing concluded, and the judgment was handed down on October 22.
A mother of two of the survivors expressed strong dissatisfaction with the outcome. “I am not satisfied with the decision of the Takeo Provincial Court,” she said. “After waiting eight years for this case, a two‑year sentence and 4,000,000 Riel in compensation is not justice. I will appeal to the Court of Appeal.”
Throughout the trial, LICADHO and APLE provided legal assistance, representation, psychosocial support, and accompaniment for the children. APLE also advocated for child‑friendly, trauma‑informed procedures to protect the children’s privacy and minimize re‑traumatization.
The family’s planned appeal will move the case to the Court of Appeal, where they seek a harsher sentence and greater redress for the victims.
