A 30-year-old former English teacher was sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia yesterday for raping a 14-year-old girl in Phnom Penh.

Timothy Vadez, a national of the Philippines known as ‘TJ’, was given a prison sentence and also ordered to pay a 20-million-riel fine (around US$5,000) after being convicted of the offence at Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Vadez used to teach English at the Water Living Center, in the capital’s Sen Sok district’s Khmuonh commune, which his parents owned, said presiding judge Sin Visal.

In 2008, while also working as the general manager of the centre, he raped a girl who was living at the centre eight times, the court was told.

He then returned to the Philippines before a complaint was lodged by the girl’s parents in 2009.

During yesterday’s judgement, Sin Visal ordered authorities to take measures to arrest Vadez and bring him to Cambodia to serve his prison term.

Peng Maneth, a lawyer acting for the victim, said: “I appreciate the court’s verdict and its decision.”

“I think that the criminal’s sentence and the payment of compensation are appropriate for his crimes.”

“I ask the related authorities to seek for the arrest of this Filipino man and bring him to jail in Cambodia,” she added.

The lawyer also called on police to work the Philippines’ embassy to ensure the arrest is carried out.

Timothy Vadez’s lawyer, Ros Aun, could not be reached for comment yesterday.