A 30-year-old woman who allegedly kidnapped and sold a 7-year-old girl for $25 and a cell phone was sent to pre-trial detention by Preah Vihear Provincial Court yesterday.

Li Lon, Preah Vihear provincial prosecutor, said the girl is now back with her family and the suspect, Kong Chanthou, was arrested on Monday on charges of human trafficking.

According to the National Police Commission website, Chanthou kidnapped the seven-year-old in Siem Reap on Monday while her mother was having her nails done in Phsar Leu market.

The suspect then sold the girl to a 29-year-old man named Pen Samnang living in Siem Reap in exchange for US$25 and a mobile phone, telling him it was her daughter.

Sammang took pity on the girl, thinking he might adopt her, but told police he later suspected the girl was not the defendant’s daughter and called the police to arrest Chanthou.

Chanthou denied that she kidnapped the girl, claiming the victim’s mother allowed her daughter to go with her.

To contact the reporter on this story: Khoun Leakhana at [email protected]