Phnom Penh – On 27 August 2018, Appeal Court pronounced a verdict finding a 63-year-old Korean man Mr. Park Youl guilty of “purchase of child prostitution” while another offence “sexual intercourse with minors under fifteen years” was dropped. Park was reduced the sentence from 14 years to 12 years imprisonment and ordered to pay a total of USD70.000 compensation to seven of the nine victims. The court also ordered Park’s deportation from Cambodia after he completes his sentencing.
In August 2017, Siem Reap Provincial Court pronounced a verdict, finding the convicted guilty of two offences: Purchase of child prostitution and sexual intercourse with minors under fifteen years. Then, Park was sentenced to 14 year imprisonment and ordered to pay a total of USD70.000 compensation to seven of the nine victims. The court also ordered Park’s deportation from Cambodia after his sentencing completion.
In February 2015, APLE Cambodia received a tip-off from a local informant and started the investigation immediately in collaboration with Siem Reap provincial anti human trafficking and juvenile protection police. Following almost a two-year long investigation, Park was arrested in October 2016 by the provincial police who had identified a total of nine female victims aged between 12 and 17 years.
The victims who have been receiving social and legal support from APLE and its partner organizations since their rescues confirmed the account of multiple sexual encounters with Park in exchange for money and valuable assets during the hearing.
