A 57-year-old German man accused of sexually abusing at least five children at his rental home in the capital’s Chbar Ampov district was tried before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday.

Presiding judge Heng Sokna said Udo Sabiniewicz, owner of FX Animation Studios, was charged with “indecent acts against a minor" under Article 43 of the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation following his June 16 arrest, prompted by complaints from the mothers of five boys, aged 7 to 13.

“He persuaded children to see TV and animation cartoons . . . in his rental house,” where he then sexually assaulted them, Sokna said.

Plaintiff Long Samnang, 37, Sabiniewicz’s house-cleaner for two months prior to his arrest, claims her son, 9, was abused and is seeking $5,000 in reparations.

Sabiniewicz yesterday maintained his innoncence, but admitted the children watched TV at his home.

“Their mothers brought them to my house in order to see my animation cartoon movies,” he said, adding that he did not abuse the children.