Preah Sihanouk Province: On 20 June 2017, Preah Sihanouk provincial court charged a 42-year-old Dutchman with Indecent Assault after police from Preah Sihanouk provincial Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Unit arrested him following a complaint lodged by the mother of a 6-year-old girl. The suspect is provisionally detained at Preah Sihanouk provincial prison awaiting further legal proceeding.
According to the police, the girl confirmed multiple sexual assaults by the Dutch.
On 18 June 2017, APLE Cambodia through its hotline received suspected sexual abuse of an underage girl in the province from the partner organization. Based on the information, the mother of the girl was seeking assistance after she realized that her daughter was sexually assaulted by a foreign national who later confirmed to be Dutch. According to the mother, the girl was assaulted on multiple occasions. The statement was then confirmed by the daughter to the police.
This arrest marks the fifth arrest of foreign child abuser and this is the second Dutchman arrested this year following the arrest of 53-year-old Dutchman in April charged with child pornography against 22 boys aged between 11 and 15 years in Siem Reap province. Within these five arrests, police rescued a total of 45 underage children, forty of whom are male victims.
APLE Cambodia and NGO partner are providing appropriate support to the victim and her mother to ensure that they can undergo emotional difficulties and receive meaningful justice.
“We applaud the quick action by Preah Sihanouk provincial anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection police in rescuing the girl from sexual abuse. Such an action by the police is not only rescuing one, but preventing many,” said Vando Khoem, program director at APLE.
APLE Cambodia is working with its partner organization to provide necessary social and emotional support to the girl during her rehabilitation process. At the same time, APLE Cambodia will provide pro-bono legal support to the victim and her mother, if requested.
