A Phnom Penh court has sentenced the son of a senior Muslim cleric to 12 years in prison for raping underage girls at a religious school dormitory.

Kamarutin Suhaimi, 34, was found guilty of sexually assaulting four girls aged 13 and 14, and two aged 15, while managing the female dormitory at Madrasan An‑Niman Al‑Islamiyan Al‑Thanaiya in Russei Keo district. He was also fined four million riel, about $1,000.

Deputy Prosecutor Plong Sophal confirmed Suhaimi faced charges of rape and indecent assault with aggravating circumstances under Cambodia’s Criminal Code. He was arrested in October 2024 after victims reported the abuse to police.

Lieutenant Colonel Sem Vannarith of the Anti‑Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Office said Suhaimi is the son of Neak Oknha Sos Kamry, chairman of the Highest Council for Islamic Religious Affairs in Cambodia.

Investigators concluded Suhaimi repeatedly abused the girls while overseeing the dormitory. The victims have since been placed under the care of an international organisation in Phnom Penh for protection and rehabilitation.

The case has shocked Cambodia’s Muslim community and drawn wider attention for the severity of the crimes and the accused’s family ties, underscoring the principle that justice must apply regardless of status.

-2026-03-05

22 hours ago, geovalin said:

Investigators concluded Suhaimi repeatedly abused the girls while overseeing the dormitory. The victims have since been placed under the care of an international organisation in Phnom Penh for protection and rehabilitation.

Hope it's not a catholic-based organisation. That might be 'out of the frying pan and into the fire'.