CHILD trafficking-related charges were brought Thursday by Phnom Penh Municipal Court against a Cambodian-Vietnamese man accused of providing girls as young as 8 years old to an American national who has since been extradited by the US for child sex crimes, Judge Chan Madina said.

Ho Nguy, 26, is accused of conspiracy to purchase Vietnamese prostitutes, aged between eight and 16 years, court officials said, adding that the defendant has been in custody since February 2009.

His capture came a week after the arrest of American Ronald Boyajian, who was seized during “Operation Twisted Traveller”, a US government effort targeting US citizens committing sex crimes in Cambodia.

Boyajian was extradited to the US on child sex charges in August.

“According to testimonies from two girls, they were victimised by Nguy, who worked as a broker to conspire to bring these girls to have sex with foreigners,” court prosecutor Chea Meth said.

An alleged 16-year-old victim added that Nguy “brought me to meet a man who forced me to get into his room and take off my clothes. Later, Nguy called me to perform sex with him several times along with other girls in the village”.

Prosecutors say Nguy admitted to engaging in illegal activity. “I really don’t know that this business is against the law. If I knew I would not do it,” he said. Defence lawyer Dun Vibol denied the “unjust” charges and demanded that the case be re-investigated.

Nguy will face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.