PREAH Vihear provincial court officials say they are investigating accusations that a district governor attempted to rape a primary school teacher while he was staying overnight at her house in February.

The 20-year-old victim said she had been attacked while Ung Vuthy, governor of Sangkum Thmey district, was lodging at her home in Sdao commune before performing a raid on illegal logging operations in the area.

Long Sitha, deputy provincial court prosecutor, confirmed that chief prosecutor Keo Son had already interviewed the woman about the incident.

“If any evidence is found that proves the allegation, they will question the district governor before laying any charges,” he said.

The woman said she did not initially take her complaint to authorities because she thought it would be a waste of time. But the Interior Ministry’s provincial Anti-human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department urged her to file a complaint to allow further investigation.

“With instructions from a police official from the Ministry of Interior, my family urged me to lodge the complaint in March, and also to lodge separate complaints to the provincial court, as well as Adhoc,” a local rights group, she said.

“It really damaged my reputation, as I am single,” she said, adding that she has requested US$5,000 in compensation.

Ung Vuthy could not be reached for comment Monday.

Prak Saran, Adhoc’s provincial coordinator, said his organisation has launched separate investigations into the complaint.