Siem Reap: Ā On June 4th, the Siem Reap Court pronounced a verdict against a 37-year-old British teacher found guilty of āIndecent Assaultā, a crime stipulated under the Criminal Code of Cambodia. The man was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in jail for sexually molesting two underage girls, aged 13 and 17 years. The court ordered him to pay compensation of 10 million Riel (approximately 2,500 USD) to the mother of the two victims. He was also fined with 4 million Riel (approximately 1,000 USD). Ā
In March, the Siem Reap provincial Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection police commenced the investigation of this case following the information provided by APLE. The organisation had received a Hotline’s report on suspicion of child sexual abuse from a local partner NGO working with children in Siem Reap. The police promptly identified the involved girls and their families, who were interviewed shortly after. Before the police, the two girls confirmed having been sexually abused by the British man.
APLE has provided psycho-social support to the girls and legally assisted them to participate in the justice seeking process. The girls’ mother said after the verdict pronouncement that she was pleased with the court’s judgment, but regretted that she was unable to attend the hearing due to the court’s short notice.
