An Australian English teacher is being held by police after he was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing at least three boys aged between 5 and 11 years old.

Keo Thea, director of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department, confirmed yesterday that the suspect, whom he did not name, was being held in police custody.

“Our police are still working on this case,” he said.

The suspect was reportedly arrested on Sunday morning while leaving his Phnom Penh apartment with two boys.

The alleged victims told police in subsequent interviews that the abuse had taken place.

The years-long investigation uncovered complicity of the boys’ families, whom Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE) said received money from the suspect.

APLE said the man taught in a private school.

Police also discovered a laptop, two external hard drives, about 20 memory cards and three USB sticks in the suspect’s apartment, which were all seized by police as possible evidence. Children’s toys and clothes were also found there, police said.