The case of two men who are accused of raping a beer promoter in the capital in March was heard in Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday.

Phon Dara, 21, and Yin Chan Socheath, 22, both students, were accused of luring the 19-year-old to a secluded area on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.

“They forced her to drink palm wine until she was very drunk and could not remember anything,” said presiding judge Kor Vandy. “They then took her on their motorbike into the bushes and each raped her.”

During yesterday’s hearing, Dara admitted to having sex with the woman, however, he said that she had consented: “She was my girlfriend. I did not rape her,” he said.

Dara added that he was unsure whether Chan Socheath – who remains at large – had also had sex with the complainant, who is demanding $7,000 in compensation.

“I had left the place by the time he went to meet her,” he said. A verdict is due on July 30.