Siem Reap: On 18th of July, 2019, the Siem Reap provincial court charged a U.S. Citizen from Massachusetts, aged 56, with the alleged acts of purchasing child prostitution, child pornography and rape under the law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.
Following disclosure of sexual abuse by a 16 year-old boy, The Siem Reap Anti-Human
Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Police requested the United States national be
brought to the police headquarters for interrogation. The suspect was extracted from
his rented house in Sala Kanseng village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap
city/province.
The police commenced the investigation immediately after APLE reported the possible
crime. APLE received preliminary information from an NGO representative who
obtained the concern from a community member. According to the police, it was
ascertained during the investigation that the suspect was living with a Cambodian
male adult who confirmed that the two were in a romantic relationship.
With approval from the court, the police conducted a premise search and found a
number of possibly incriminating items: mobile phones, vibrators, viagra tables and
Vaselin. The police confiscated these items for evidential purposes.
During the initial search of the two mobile phones, investigators found naked
photographs of boys, including photographs of the child who disclosed the sexual
abuse. The police is to continue the investigation with assistance from experts to
collect further evidence from the mobile phones.
This arrest marks the 12th arrest of child sex offenders in cases initiated by APLE
during these seven months into 2019. The victims are under the legal mentoring and
support of APLE’s Court Support Program and under the care of specialized partner
service-providers for emotional recovery.
APLE Cambodia and its partner organizations will continue to assess and work with
the victim to provide the best supports in order for him to be able to overcome any
emotional difficulties and other needs. APLE will provide legal aid services to the boy
and his family shall they request so during their participation in the legal justice
seeking process.
