New Zealander Malcolm Hatfield (centre) has had his prison sentence for sexually abusing Cambodian boys reducedPHNOM PENH (AFP) — A Cambodian court on Tuesday reduced the prison sentence handed to a New Zealand man convicted of sexually abusing young boys.
Malcolm Hatfield had been sentenced in 2004 to 10 years in jail, after being convicted of molesting four Cambodian boys aged 12 to 14.
Phnom Penh appeals court judge Saly Theara said he had changed Hatfield's conviction to the lesser crime of committing sexual and indecent acts against minors, giving the 62-year-old a six-year sentence.
Hatfield did not appear at the hearing.
After the opening of his appeal hearing last week, Hatfield told reporters he was innocent and alleged evidence against him was fabricated by child welfare organisations.
However Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), the Cambodia-based child welfare group that collected evidence against Hatfield, denied falsifying any evidence.
Cambodia used to apply its debauchery law to almost all sex crimes, but has recently updated its statutes to include the new charge of indecent acts against minors. The judge's ruling updated Hatfield's convictions to reflect the legal change.
Cambodia has struggled to shed its reputation as a haven for paedophiles, putting dozens of foreigners in jail for child sex crimes or deporting them to face trial in their home countries since 2003.
Malcolm Hatfield had been sentenced in 2004 to 10 years in jail, after being convicted of molesting four Cambodian boys aged 12 to 14.
Phnom Penh appeals court judge Saly Theara said he had changed Hatfield's conviction to the lesser crime of committing sexual and indecent acts against minors, giving the 62-year-old a six-year sentence.
Hatfield did not appear at the hearing.
After the opening of his appeal hearing last week, Hatfield told reporters he was innocent and alleged evidence against him was fabricated by child welfare organisations.
However Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), the Cambodia-based child welfare group that collected evidence against Hatfield, denied falsifying any evidence.
Cambodia used to apply its debauchery law to almost all sex crimes, but has recently updated its statutes to include the new charge of indecent acts against minors. The judge's ruling updated Hatfield's convictions to reflect the legal change.
Cambodia has struggled to shed its reputation as a haven for paedophiles, putting dozens of foreigners in jail for child sex crimes or deporting them to face trial in their home countries since 2003.
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