Prey Sar bound

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday convicted, then sentenced, a staff member of a local hotel to seven years in prison for raping a guest at knifepoint.

Presiding Judge Sin Visal said yesterday that Im Vannara, 26, was guilty of twice raping Sim Srey Nich, 30, on November 30 after entering her room in the capital’s Khmer City Hotel on the pretext of fixing her television.

“[Vannara] has the right to appeal this court’s decision to the Court of Appeal within 30 days if he does not accept it,” Visal added.

Indeed, Vannara, who attended the announcement of the verdict, told the Post that he planned to appeal.

“I think that the court’s decision is injustice for me, and I cannot accept it,” said Vannara, who yesterday told the court that the sex had been consensual.  

Sim Srey Nich and her defence lawyer were not present at the court yesterday and could not be reached for comment.