A provincial police lieutenant attached to the fire prevention unit was charged on Saturday for the unlawful detention and rape of a 15-year-old girl and attempt to sell her to another man.
Police said the accused, Dem Makara, 33, from Kampong Trabek district, was arrested on May 10 and produced in court on Sunday, where he was charged under articles 240, 253 and 289 of the Criminal Code.
If found guilty, he faces seven to 10 years in jail under Article 240 which relates to rape, five to 10 years under Article 253 relating to unlawful detention, and seven to 10 years under Article 289 which relates to prostitution.
Meas Sopheak, the prosecutor and spokesman for the Prey Veng Provincial Court, said: “Immediately after the suspect was arrested, he was ordered by Sang Serey, the investigating judge, to be held for questioning.
Confirming this, Ouk Phat, the Prey Veng provincial crime officer, said the accused is being held at a prison pending trial.
Elaborating on the case, police said Makara, who is also a son of a provincial police chief, had detained and raped the girl over a four-month period since February.
The victim, from Rong village, Cham commune, in Kampong Trabek district, Prey Veng, took the opportunity to escape her assailant and seek help from police when he went out, leaving her unattended. She told police that Makara had planned to sell her to another man.
