A man who allegedly shaved his head and posed as a monk to win the trust of his 10-year-old neighbour before sexually abusing her in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district was arrested yesterday, police said.

Deputy municipal military police commander Pu Davy said neighbours had reported the “monk” on suspicion of abusing the girl.

He said 28-year-old Mek Phak had admitted his deceit when military police, in the company of religious affairs officials, asked him to produce identity papers for the pagoda he belonged to.

“The fake monk was then sent to anti-human trafficking for questioning and investigation of the allegations,” Davy said.

Chea Chouk, the director of anti-human trafficking at the municipal military police, said the man was living in a rented house located near his victim.

“The monk was accused of sexual harassment of a minor and defaming the victim, according to the victim’s family’s complaint,” Chouk said.

“We are looking into his suspected accomplices.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Kim Yuthana at [email protected]