US soldier set to be deported

The American soldier who escaped to Cambodia facing charges of child pornography and child abuse in the United States will be deported back to his home country today, according to Uk Hai Sela, investigations head at the Ministry of Interior’s immigration department.

Hai Sela said Michael Edward Harris, who was arrested last Tuesday in Kratie province, will be flying to Incheon, South Korea, on a flight just before midnight.

He will be accompanied by two US Air Marshals and will then transfer to a flight to the US, according to Hai Sela.

“All I know is from this morning from the US Embassy,” said Hai Sela, who added that Harris was still being held at the capital’s immigration department.

US Embassy spokesman Jay Raman declined to comment.

Harris entered Cambodia on January 17, skipping bail in Orlando, Florida, where he was facing child pornography charges.

Harris started working as a dog trainer in Sihanoukville under the alias “Mike Dobbs”, but his identity was uncovered after his ex-wife, Denise Diaz, posted a US media report about him in a Cambodian online forum.

Harris fled his apartment on October 15, successfully evading authorities for almost two weeks.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/us-soldier-set-be-deported