A Cambodian Mine Action Centre official is one of two suspects accused of sexual harassment against a waitress in Banteay Meanchey province’s Sisophon district, officials confirmed yesterday.

The charges stem from an incident occurring last Tuesday night at Stung Sen restaurant in Preah Ponlea commune’s Kbal Spean village. The accuser, 25-year-old waitress Hi Theavy, told the Post yesterday that the CMAC official and one of his friends forced her to drink alcohol and groped her. Hi Theavy said she filed a compliant to rights group Adhoc the following day.

“I would like the court to find justice for this case by detaining the suspects and demanding US$2,000 in compensation,” she said.

Sith Loas, chief of Banteay Meanchey province’s Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection office, confirmed yesterday that Hi Theavy had levelled sexual harassment charges against the CMAC official and one other suspect. He said the latter had been brought in for questioning on Sunday, while the CMAC official and various witnesses would be brought in today.

“We will send the suspects to court within the week,” he said. Adhoc provincial coordinator Sum Chankeary said that his office would supply a lawyer for the waitress. She “called me and was crying. She said she asked the men not to touch her body, but they didn’t care and continued to do so,” he added.

CMAC general director Heng Ratana could not be reached for comment yesterday.