A Vietnamese brother and sister have been sentenced to a total of 15 years’ imprisonment by Phnom Penh Municipal Court for sex trafficking.

Vin Thyyong, 31 was handed an eight-year term, while Vin Yangdeouk, 30 was given seven years. The pair reportedly forced the female employees at their coffee shop to have sex with guests.

Thyyong told the court that she opened the coffee shop and that eight girls came to live with her, claiming the girls also worked as masseuses and lived upstairs.

“I did not know letting them live with me was illegal. I have not persuaded them to sleep with men and I have not received any money from them. No sexual activity has taken place in the house when girls go to work,” Thyyong pleaded.

The Vietnamese victims – all between the ages of 16 and 18 - contested the owners’ claims.  Following the verdict, both Thyyong and Yangdeok said they would take their case to the Court of Appeal.