Siem Reap, Cambodia – the Siem Reap Provincial Court of First Instance sentenced Cambodian national Thoun Sambath to two years imprisonment on charge of indecent act against three boys aged 9 to 14 years old. The judge also ordered him to pay 3 million riel compensation to the three civil plaintiffs.
Child protection organization APLE was alerted about the suspicious behavior of Thoun Sambath in September 2014. At that time, he was looking for local boys. Three boys were initially identified and testified that they had been sexually abused by the perpetrator. Then, their parents came forward to file complaints with police against the man.
An investigation was carried out by the Cambodian National Police with assistance and technical support from child protection NGO Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE Cambodia), and led to the conviction of the perpetrator.
Thoun Sambath was arrested on 15 September 2014 and served a pre-trial detention in Siem Reap until the verdict today.
Khoem Vando, Deputy Director of Field Operations, said that: “No matter who the perpetrators are, Cambodian or foreigner, APLE is always involved in getting justice for the victims. APLE will continue to support the victims with social and legal services.”
This conviction marks the fourth this year of Cambodian national committing sexual crime against children in APLE-related cases.
