The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday convicted a former police officer of using his gun to threaten a young woman before raping her in a Tuol Kork district guesthouse.

Presiding judge Keo Mony said ex-cop Heng Paris, 34, was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of aggravated rape for his assault of a 20-year-old garment worker on August 14.

Major Phath Phalla, deputy chief of the Municipal Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Unit, said Paris had forced the victim to drink at a karaoke parlour, then took her to a guesthouse, where he threatened to shoot her if she did not have sex with him.

Paris maintained his innocence yesterday, saying the sex was consensual, vowing to appeal and claiming that he and the victim had been in a relationship for two years.