A 72-year-old traditional healer was arrested in Pursat province’s Kandeang district yesterday for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl.

The healer, Prum Someit, was living with and treating the victim’s aunt, Sem Phearun. According to the police complaint, Someit convinced the victim that her aunt was possessed by a malevolent spirit and that he could get rid of it if the victim slept with him.

The victim slept with Someit six times, but on Sunday, Phearun overheard the healer cajoling her niece for more sex, and brought the niece to authorities to file a complaint.

Child protection police arrested Someit on the same day.

According to Kandeang district police chief Sin Sokha, the healer admitted to the allegations. He was charged with rape of a juvenile by persuasion at Pursat Provincial Court.

Houn Phorm, a social worker with rights group Licadho in Pursat, said that most rape cases in the province involve poor victims between the ages of 7 and 13.

In 2014, Licadho handled seven cases of sexual assault on a minor in Pursat. In 2015, there were nine cases as of June.