Accused molester charged in Sihanoukville

The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court on Tuesday pressed charges against a 42-year-old Dutchman after he allegedly committed “indecent acts” on a 6-year-old girl in his care.

According to Provincial Deputy Police Chief Pen Kanha, the victim’s mother, a masseuse, had known the suspect for about two years and had let her daughter stay at his guesthouse, where the alleged assault took place on June 17.

Suon Sophan, deputy chief of the local Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Unit, said that the complaint filed by the child’s mother the day after the alleged incident was handed to the court along with the suspect on Tuesday.

Provincial Court Prosecutor Chat Soreaksmey confirmed that the court charged the suspect but said she was unaware of what the charges were.

According to a press release issued by child protection organisation APLE yesterday, this is the fifth arrest of a foreign child abuser this year.

“The situation has been like this for a few years… There is an increase of these events in Sihanoukville itself,” said APLE Program Director Vando Khoem.

Contact authors: Jovina Chua and Mech Dara

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