A 22-year-old sex worker was sentenced by Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday to four years and six months in prison for stealing from six men by disguising himself as a woman, a court official and a police officer said yesterday.

In six separate cases, Puth Sina, also known as Panha, stole cash, phones and jewellery from male customers after they picked him up at Wat Phnom in Daun Penh district.

“He is a man, but disguised himself as a girl while working as a sex worker,” said Kor Vandy, presiding judge of Phnom Penh Municipal Court. He added that Sina was arrested by police on January 5.

Seng Reaksmey, a Daun Penh district police officer, said Sina was picked up by police after stealing an iPhone from a customer on the night of his arrest.

An accomplice, known as “Pheak”, evaded arrest.

Sina confessed to stealing two high-end smartphones worth $700 each, three gold necklaces, two other mobile phones and about $70 from three different male customers prior to his arrest, according to Reaksmey.

Sina pleaded guilty on all counts yesterday.

“The reason why I decided to disguise myself as a girl and work in commercial sex work is because I am a person who likes and loves men and prefers to have sex with men. The other reason is because it was easier to earn money,” he said yesterday.