On 11 Mar 2016, Phnom Penh Municipal Court pronounced the verdict against a German national charged with indecent act against a minor under 15 years of age by Article 43 of Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (LSHTSE). He was sentenced to one year in jail and ordered to pay compensation of USD 2,000 to 2 two civil plaintiffs without deportation order.
Since we could see that the family and the boy victims would not feel safe without a deportation order, APLE lawyer has advocated to the prosecutor of Phnom Penh Municipal Court to appeal for us on the deportation of the convict. As the prosecutor also found that the accused could bring more harm to the family, the boy victims and other Cambodian children, the prosecutor decided to appeal for us on deportation.
On 12 July 2016, the Appeal Court held a trial against the convict on the issue of deportation after the prosecutor had appealed. On 27 July 2016, the appeal court decided to make a deportation order in addition to his penalty. The family also attended the hearing during the pronouncement of the verdict. They were really joyful with this decision. They were reassured that this convict could not bring any risk to them as they had feared.
APLE lawyer said it was a fair decision. "We were pleased with the appeal of the prosecutor and with the brilliant decision of the Appeal Court to issue a deportation order to this man. This decision can help the children not to be re-victimized and protect other children from any sexual abuse caused by the convict. Moreover, it is a message to other foreign paedophiles that Cambodia will not welcome any foreign paedophiles who wish to consider Cambodia as a haven for abusing children."
