Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday sentenced a 56-year-old-Chinese man to five years in prison for the attempted rape of a 20-year-old cleaner at a Phnom Penh guesthouse in May.

Municipal Court prosecutor Kor Vandy said Chinese national Chen Miao Kuan had visited Cambodia as a tourist and stayed at the Angkor Thom Guesthouse in Prampei Makara district, O’ Russey III commune.  

“He caught his victim when she came to clean his room, took off her clothes and manhandled her, aiming to rape her,” Kor Vandy said.

“But she screamed and yelled for help, alerting others at the guesthouse.

“He is convicted to five years and ordered to pay five million riels ($1,235 USD) in compensation to the victim.”

The victim said that on May 10 about 8:30am she had entered Chen Miao Kuan’s room to clean it.

“While I was cleaning the bathroom he caught me, pressed my breasts and took off my clothes,” she said.

“I tried to defend myself, but I could not do it alone, so I called for help from other workers in the guesthouse,” she told the court.

The workers heard her cries and came to her rescue.