A PREY VENG couple who were kidnapped, beaten and held in

a brothel till they were rescued are trying to rebuild

their lives back in their home village.

Ming Sa-Man and her husband Ly Ra had come to Phnom Penh

for work but instead found themselves sold to a brothel

by a man who had promised them work in a garment factory.

They were held for five days while the owner tried

forcing Sa-Man into prostitution. Ly Ra eventually

managed to escape.

Since then the couple have been living under the

protection of the Cambodian Women's Crisis Center which

has provided accommodation and medical treatment for

them.

CWCC director Oung Chanthol said they had been trying to

find them vocational training but they decided they did

not want to stay in Phnom Penh. "At the beginning

Sa-Man wished to be trained to be a tailor, and Ly Ra

wished to be trained to be a motor bike repairer, and we

decided to help them."

But she said since then the couple were escorted by her

staff to visit their home village whereupon their family

convinced them not to stay in Phnom Penh. She said that

CWCC has managed to contact an NGO in Prey Veng that

would help them when they returned to their village.

Charges against the brothel owner, Loeung Sarith, are

mounting. Ek Kret, deputy chief of Municipal Police, said

Sarith is still under detention awaiting trial. He said

in addition to the brothel and kidnapping charges Sarith

would also face weapons charges.

Meanwhile Ly Ra has also filed a complaint with the

municipal court demanding $2000 compensation. The court's

investigating judge, Kong Set, said it could take up to

six months to complete the investigation.