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.
