More than three months after his arrest by anti-human trafficking and juvenile police, 44-year-old Phuong Vanna stood trial yesterday over the alleged provision of sexual services in his massage shop.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Oeurng Seang said  Phuong Vanna, owner of the Srey Mom Massage Shop, was charged with operating an illegal brothel.

He said that during the October 28 raid in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor district, police had rescued 10 women who were working as masseuses and confiscated two used condoms, along with unused condoms and empty condom packages.

Defence lawyer Dun Vibol said there was no proof the condoms found and seized in the shop had been used by customers and, in fact, could have been planted by police to arrest his client.

He said police sometimes presented themselves as customers  to gain evidence against the shop’s owner.

Phuong Vanna denied all charges during his trial yesterday.  The verdict will be handed down on February 23.