One convicted on rape and abduction charges #Cambodian + Australian, 53, tried for sexually abusing

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One convicted on rape and abduction charges

Wed, 11 February 2015

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday handed down a verdict in the case of two security guards accused of abducting, detaining and raping an 11-year-old girl, finding one guilty, but determining that his alleged accomplice was not, due to a lack of evidence.

Presiding judge Kor Vandy found defendant Norng Vichetr, 46, guilty of the illegal detention of a human being and rape with aggravating circumstances, sentencing him to seven years in prison and ordering him to pay 8 million riel (about $2,000) in compensation to the victim. Co-defendant Chhory Bunthoeun, 35, was acquitted as an accomplice.

Chhim Savin, a deputy village chief and councillor for Phsar Thmey II commune, testified at the pair’s trial that the victim was taken from the restaurant where she worked with her mother to Vichetr’s room. She later escaped and returned to the restaurant to tell her mother.

“She said that she was brought by the two accused men to stay in Norng Vichetr’s rental room in Phsar Thmey II commune. She was forcibly raped by Norng Vichetr and was detained at his rental room for a week,” he said.

A medical examination confirmed that a sexual assault had taken place.

Vichetr could not be reached for comment yesterday, but at his trial last month, he denied raping the girl, maintaining he had brought her to her room because “she had lost her mother and was homeless”.

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Australian, 53, tried for sexually abusing boys

Wed, 11 February 2015

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday began hearing the case of an Australian teacher accused of raping six boys between the ages of 3 and 11 whom he allegedly groomed for victimhood.

“Since 2013, the suspect George Moussallie comforted many poor and street boys who were juveniles, [and asked them] to eat food with him and took them to buy clothes for them. But ultimately, he brought them to visit and stay at his rental house,” said presiding judge Kor Vandy.

There, Vandy continued, he allegedly showed them pornography, raped them and took nude photos of them. Moussallie, 53, is charged with sexual intercourse with a minor under 15 and committing an indecent act against a minor under 15.

Each of the six boys is demanding between $5,000 and $10,000 in compensation.

Eang Chanlon, chief of the juvenile protection police at the Ministry of Interior, said Moussallie was with two boys under the age of 11 when he was arrested in a police raid.

One of Moussallie’s alleged victims testified yesterday that the man had taken him and others to restaurants and play dates, but afterwards “he always brought us to his house”, where he molested them.

Moussallie admitted to taking photos of the boys as they bathed – maintaining that the photos weren’t meant to be sexual in nature – but denied any sexual contact. The hearing continues on March 6.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/australian-53-tried-sexually-abusing-boys