An Australian teacher was sentenced at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to five years in prison yesterday for sexually abusing six boys aged 3 to 11 in 2013 and 2014.

Presiding judge Kor Vandy said that George Moussallie, 53, was also ordered to pay a fine of five million riel (about $1,250), and to pay 10 million riel to each of the two victims who demanded compensation.

“The court orders he be expelled from Cambodia as soon as he has completely served his term of imprisonment,” Vandy added.

Moussallie was charged with having sexual intercourse with a minor under 15 and committing an indecent act against a minor under 15.

According to police, Moussallie was arrested at his apartment where police found two boys under the age of 11 and a laptop containing pornographic images of children.

Moussallie maintained his innocence at trial, admitting only to taking nude photos of the boys, but saying they weren’t meant to be sexual in nature, and that no physical contact had occurred. His lawyer, Suy Sunhak, said yesterday he had already filed an appeal.