The director of a Phnom Penh children’s NGO arrested over allegations of abuse was released from police custody on Wednesday due to a lack of evidence, police said yesterday.

Mao Soeuth, deputy police chief in Chbar Ampov district, confirmed that Soy Srey On, 23, director of Bethel Children’s Home of Cambodia, was “released and returned home”.

Another district police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Srey On “has been put under police monitoring”, but was released because there was “no evidence”.

Srey On was arrested following a complaint from the NGO’s principal donor, Chloe Flanagan, who alleged that she beat and neglected children, and had sex with her boyfriend in front of them.

Ministry of Social Affairs officials removed four children from the centre on Tuesday.

In an interview yesterday, Srey On admitted to “whip[ping] [children] a little bit with a stick to give them discipline”, but maintained she had “permission from their parents to do so”.

She also admitted to giving the children their meals late, but denied the allegations of public sex.

Social Affairs official Em Chanmakara said the decision to release Srey On was a police matter.