A 35-year-old motorbike taxi driver was charged yesterday with the rape of a 39-year old female beggar in Banteay Meanchey’s Sisophon district, according to Deputy Provincial Police Chief Chan Kosal.

Yimros Dara Reatrey, 35, was arrested on Sunday after a complaint was filed with police by the victim, who was identified as a widowed beggar with two children living in Sisophon district’s Phum 4 village.

“This man was officially charged yesterday with rape of a female beggar in Banteay Meanchey province,” Chan Kosal said.

“He was arrested based on a complaint filed by the victim, who said that she was forcibly raped by the man on Saturday night while she was sitting alone at a pagoda.’

Chan Kosal added that according to the complaint, the victim was sitting under a Bodhi tree located inside Wat Sama Thiphal in Preah Ponlea commune, when the suspect drove by her on his motorbike and attacked her.

The suspect stopped his motorbike and used his hands to cover the woman’s mouth while he raped her under the tree, according to the complaint.

The victim said in her complaint that after the rape, the man gave her 10,000 riels (about US$2.50) before leaving the scene on his motorbike.

The woman then filed a complaint with Preah Ponlea commune police on Sunday, Chan Kosal said.

“He was arrested at his house in Phum 4 village after police had received the complaint,” Chan Kosal said.

“He is now being detained at the provincial prison in Banteay Meanchey awaiting trial.”