Ta Prohm exhibitionists face expulsion #IT,ARG,NL,nationals

[geovalin]

Chhay Channyda

Three more foreign tourists face being kicked out of Cambodia for taking naked photos at the Angkor Archeological Park.

Two men, an Italian and Argentinean, and a Dutch woman were arrested yesterday afternoon at Ta Prohm temple by tourism police, according to Long Kosal, a spokesman for the Apsara Authority, which manages the historic complex.

"They are now at court for legal action," Kosal said. "A tourism agent arrested them when they saw activities of [the group] taking nude photos from behind the body."

It is the third time this year visitors to the World Heritage site have been busted for taking nude photos of themselves among the ancient ruins.

In February, two American sisters were booted out of the Kingdom for stripping down at the Preah Khan temple, while in January three French travellers arrested at Banteay Kdei temple were deported for "exposure of sexual organs".

Following the spate of incidents, Apsara vowed to boost security at the park.

As with the previous cases, the trio's behavior has been slammed as offensive to Cambodian culture.

"This kind of activity really affects Cambodian society," Kosal said.

"Cambodian temples have been constructed to dedicate to God and ancestors … which are valued religious beliefs. No tourists can take off their clothes."

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ta-prohm-exhibitionists-face-expulsion

[geovalin]

Nude shutterbugs get suspended sentences

Wed, 13 May 2015

Thik Kaliyann

Siem Reap

Siem Reap Provincial Court yesterday suspended prison sentences for three foreign tourists convicted of taking photos of their naked buttocks at Angkor Archaeological Park and ordered they be deported.

Italian Bruno Margrini, 30, Argentinean Luciano Gaston Munoz, 30, and Dutch national Kiri Stamou, 19, were arrested on Monday afternoon after being caught taking photos with their pants down by guards at the Ta Prohm temple.

Their arrest marks the third time this year foreign travellers have been busted taking nude photos at the historic World Heritage Site.

While noting the trio’s remorse, judge Hok Pov yesterday handed Margrini and Munoz a seven-month suspended sentence and fined them $315. Stamou, meanwhile, received a six-month suspended sentence and $200 fine.

Pov ordered all three to leave the country after paying their fines and banned them from returning for four years.

“They told us in the court that they were sorry to all Cambodian people as they said they had no intention to look down on Khmer culture; they felt sorry about what they did.”

Since January, five people have been deported for similar incidents at the ancient temple complex.

In February, two American sisters were booted out of the Kingdom for stripping down at the Preah Khan temple, while in January, three French travellers arrested at Banteay Kdei temple were deported for “exposure of sexual organs”.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nude-shutterbugs-get-suspended-sentences