A father convicted of raping his own daughter was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Thursday by Kampot Provincial Court, according to Judge Nguon Nara.

Phan Sophon, 33, was reported anonymously to NGO Action Pour Les Enfants in March this year on claims that he had repeatedly raped his daughter at their home in Kampong Speu, APLE’s Khoem Vando said.

Sophon was arrested by provincial police on April 5 after moving to Kampot province’s Chiva town.

“I can accept this verdict,” Sok Socheata, the victim’s lawyer, said yesterday.

“The judge’s decision will bolster the judicial system in Cambodia and warn others who commit the same actions.”

During the trial on August 23, the victim testified that her father raped her repeatedly last year. She has been living with relatives in Phnom Penh since the complaint.

“The mother was not aware of the abuse because she was away working,” Vando said.

“Initially the mother was not willing to file a complaint but she supports the prosecution.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Kim Yuthana at [email protected]

Rachel Will at [email protected]