2008-10-14
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Child protection NGO has blasted the Sihanoukville Municipal Court for once again postponing the largest pedophile trial in the country's history, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily said Tuesday.
Alexander Trofimov, 41-year-old executive director of the Koh Puos Investment Group, was supposed to face charge Monday of abusing 11 girls younger than 15 and seven girls aged between 15 and 17, but his hearing was postponed once again because he still doesn't have a lawyer.
Trofimov was originally set to appear before the court on Sept.23, but the trial was delayed after his lawyer quit because of sore throat. Judge Taing Sunlay told Trofimov to have another lawyer Monday or the court would appoint him one.
"This postponement shows that the judge has limited abilities," said Ket Chanto, member of international NGO World Vision, which takes care of the victims.
"Judges always use excuses to change cases. Even though we know the excuses are invalid, we can do nothing," he added.
Trifimov is currently being held in pre-trial detention at Sihanoukville municipal prison. The businessman once established his company to develop an isolated island in Sihanoukville into a comprehensive resort.
Editor: Sun Yunlong
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Child protection NGO has blasted the Sihanoukville Municipal Court for once again postponing the largest pedophile trial in the country's history, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily said Tuesday.
Alexander Trofimov, 41-year-old executive director of the Koh Puos Investment Group, was supposed to face charge Monday of abusing 11 girls younger than 15 and seven girls aged between 15 and 17, but his hearing was postponed once again because he still doesn't have a lawyer.
Trofimov was originally set to appear before the court on Sept.23, but the trial was delayed after his lawyer quit because of sore throat. Judge Taing Sunlay told Trofimov to have another lawyer Monday or the court would appoint him one.
"This postponement shows that the judge has limited abilities," said Ket Chanto, member of international NGO World Vision, which takes care of the victims.
"Judges always use excuses to change cases. Even though we know the excuses are invalid, we can do nothing," he added.
Trifimov is currently being held in pre-trial detention at Sihanoukville municipal prison. The businessman once established his company to develop an isolated island in Sihanoukville into a comprehensive resort.
Editor: Sun Yunlong
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