Cambodian police sat down with Russian Embassy officials yesterday and urged them to accelerate the extradition of convicted pedophile Alexander Trofimov, a high-ranking police officer said.

General Sok Phal, national deputy police commissioner, said he met with embassy officials to push them to speed up the processing of necessary documents for Trofimov’s deportation, including his passport. However, the two sides had not come to a consensus on a timeline for deportation.

“We met with the Russian Embassy officials to push them to get it [paperwork and passport] done soon so that we can deport him [Trofimov],” said Sok Phal. “We don’t want to keep him here.”

A mega resort investor in Sihanoukville, Alexander Trofimov, also known as Stanislav Molodyakov, was convicted of sexually abusing 17 Cambodian girls between 2005 and 2007, and is wanted by Interpol for raping six girls in Russia.

His original sentence of 17 years in prison was reduced to eight and a half years. He subsequently received a royal pardon in December after serving half of that sentence.

Trofimov was re-arrested on June 4 in Kandal province on deportation orders issued by the Ministry of Interior.

Samleang Seila, director of NGO Action Pour Les Enfants, said the Russian Embassy’s negotiation of an extradition agreement with Cambodia would likely mean a longer time taken to deport the Russian national.

“Whether by deportation or extradition, we want to see him [Trofimov] punished in Russia,” said Samleang Seila.

Russian Embassy officials declined to comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Cheang Sokha at [email protected]