On June 9th, 2022: The Phnom Penh Municipal Court pronounced a verdict sentencing a Frenchman, 56 years old, from Vierzon to 5 year imprisonment for two charges of Indecent Acts against Minor under Fifteen Years and Sexual Intercourse with Minor under Fifteen Years under Article 43 and 42 of the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation. Both charges involved sexual acts committed on 6 boys aged between 8 and 15 years. The court also ordered the Frenchman to pay 4 million Riel fine and 48 million Riel compensation to all the victims, and to be deported from Cambodia upon completion of his sentencing.
Before his conviction, the Frenchman was self-employed and offered free of charge English classes at his home in Phnom Penh where he gained unsupervised access to the children from his neighbourhood. APLE received a tip-off about the Frenchman and reported the suspicion to police from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department. Investigations revealed that he used his own resources to groom the children for sexual purposes.
Over 10 underage boys were identified during the initial investigation by police, while six of them confirmed their victimisation by the Frenchman. According to the police, the Frenchman often invited children to his home and entertained them with computer games and movies. He also provided food, money and expensive gifts to his victims and their families.
APLE and its partner NGO have assessed the needs and provided psychosocial support to the victims and their families who have also received legal counseling and representation in court from lawyers provided by APLE.
One of the survivors said after the verdict that “I am pleased with the decision of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to find him guilty. I’m happy to know that my abuser will be deported from Cambodia as this is going to stop him from abusing other children here”
