Abuse claims

An American Baptist preacher and a Cambodian man police identified as the preacher’s godson were arrested on Friday for allegedly paying three underage boys for sex in Sihanoukville.

Police arrested Charles William Manning, 67, of Victory Baptist Church, at his rental house following a complaint from child exploitation prevention NGO Action Pour les Enfants, said I Sokha, director of Sihanoukville’s anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection department.

They later arrested Cambodian San Veasna, 24, while he was attempting to escape to Phnom Penh, Sokha said.

During questioning, Manning admitted to luring three boys, aged 13, 14 and 15, into having sex for money, while Veasna denied the claims, Sokha said.

Mei Tes, another preacher at Victory Baptist Church, said the alleged offences should not be associated with the church. “If he is guilty of the offence, police should accuse him,” he said.