Charles Sohn, a Korean-Australian national sentenced to three years imprisonment after sexually assaulting two girls aged 6 and 10, was released on time served – about six months – and subsequently deported on Tuesday, court and prison officials said yesterday.

According to Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court clerk Sun Ratana, the court ruled Sohn would pay US$1,000 to each of his victims, and would only be jailed from the day of his arrest until the day of his verdict, suspending the remainder of his three-year sentence.

Hin Sophal, chief of Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison, said Sohn “has already left Cambodia”.

Sohn, 38, lured two girls to his home in Kbal Koh village by offering them cookies and candies, then sexually assaulted and photographed them, said child protection NGO Action Pour Les Enfants.

Hong Sambath, an APLE lawyer, called the verdict “very disappointing”.

“Based on facts, issues, law and my experiences of case studies and case analysis, this verdict is not a logical one,” said Sambath.

To contact the reporters on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]

Rachel Will at [email protected]