Cambodia Court Imprisons Three Foreigners on Sex Crimes

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/

via CAAI

Published : October 17, 2010

Last week Cambodian courts convicted American, French and Japanese men for having sexually abused teenagers in three separate cases that authorities said should serve as a warning to both foreign visitors looking to visit Cambodia solely for the purpose of committing sex crimes.

Phnom Penh, the 15th of October 2010: Major Keo Thea, chief of the Phnom Penh police division that protects minors and victims of human trafficking, said the cases were a victory for police, who have been trying for years to crack down on foreign men drawn to the country in order to commit sex crimes.

“Today’s convictions should serve as a lesson to other foreigners who wish to visit Cambodia only to have sex with minors. They should be aware and stay away,” he said.

In separate rulings the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court gave American, 57-year-old Alan Arthur Perry, three years in prison on charges of paying four children aged 16 and 17 for prostitution. He was ordered to pay 4 million riel ($950) in compensation to the families of the children.

Michel Roger Blanchard, a 45-year-old Frenchman, was convicted of “unlawful removal” of 16-year-old boys for the purpose of sexual relations, a charge that carries a penalty of up to 20 years. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison for taking the boys on a trip in the beach resort area of Sihanoukville. The judge ordered him to pay 3 million riel ($710) in compensation to the boys.

While in the capital, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced 41-year-old Japanese Atsushi Kato to seven years in prison on charges of repeatedly abusing a 13-year-old girl. He testified to having sexual relations with the girl a half dozen times, each time paying her $10. He was convicted of paying a child for prostitution and ordered to be deported after serving his term.