A Motodop yesterday denied raping a five-year-old girl after offering to buy her a treat at a school cake sale in Phnom Penh last year.

Em Sokha, 27, is accused of raping the child in a school bathroom in Teuk Thla commune, Sen Sok district, last November.

The girl’s mother testified at Phom Penh Municipal Court yesterday that while she was at work, the motodop gave her daughter 500 riel (around US$0.13) and said he would take her to buy a cake at the school.

By the time they had arrived, she claimed, the school was empty and the cake sale had shut. She alleged that Em Sokha then raped her daughter in a toilet.

“I think that this activity is the very worst and inhuman,” she said, while demanding 1 million riel (around US$250) in compensation.

Em Sokha denied all charges, but admitting he had touched the girl. “I accepted that I brought her to school and went to the bathroom, but I did not rape her. I have touched her vagina only. Therefore, I would like to ask the court to reduce the sentence for me,” he said. Presiding judge Din Sivuthy said a verdict was due on May 26.