A German national convicted of sexually abusing children in Cambodia is due to be deported by the end of the week, immigration police said yesterday.

Udo Sabiniewicz, 57, the former head of FX Animation Studios, was arrested in June last year and on March 11 was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,000 to each of his two victims, aged 7 and 9. Due to time served, Sabiniewicz was made eligible for release last month.

Uk Hai Sela, director of the Interior Ministry’s immigration department, confirmed Sabiniewicz was re-arrested after his release from jail and is due to be deported in the coming days.

“I wanted to deport him immediately after arresting him, but he needs to have money to buy a plane ticket. The embassy needs to solve it,” he said.

German Ambassador to Cambodia Joachim Baron von Marschall confirmed the embassy had been notified the Cambodian immigration authorities had arrested a German national, who was receiving consular assistance.

“For reasons of data protection the Embassy cannot divulge the name of the detainee nor can it comment on the case,” he said via email.

Sabiniewicz will face similar charges in Germany, according to Action Pour Les Enfants program director Vando Khoem, who said German law enforcement authorities had informed him Sabiniewicz was wanted on an outstanding warrant.