Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld the verdict against Austrian national Olaf Achleitner, who was convicted in 2008 for having sexual intercourse with two 14-year-old boys. He was sentenced by Phnom Penh Municipal Court to ten years in prison and ordered to pay four million riels to each of his victims as compensation. The verdict was also upheld by the Appeal Court, in 2012.
Olaf Achleitner was arrested in 2007, in a joint operation of APLE and the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Unit, and is in prison ever since.
Seila Samleang, Country Director of APLE, stated:
“We applaud the highest court’s decision as it brings justice to the victims. However, since no deportation order was given in this case, after completing his sentence the offender can return to the streets of Cambodia and make more victims. APLE is again calling for mandatory deportation to be given in all foreigner-perpetrated child sexual abuse cases.”
Additional report:
The Phnom Penh Post, August 14
