Bart Lauwaert, left, a convicted Australian child sex offender is escorted by prison guard, arrives at the Appeals Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, June 1, 2006. The Appeals Court on Thursday opened an appeal hearing of Lauwaert convicted of having sex with young girls more than three years ago. Lauwaert, believed to be 39-years-old, is appealing a 20-year jail sentence handed down on him by Siem Reap provincial court in early 2003. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)Thursday Jun 1, 2006
AP - A Cambodian court has opened hearings on an Australian man appealing his 20-year sentence for having sex with young girls.
Bart Lauwaert appealed the sentence handed down in 2003 by Siem Reap's provincial court, which convicted him of having sex with girls aged 11 to 14. It was not clear how many girls he allegedly abused.
Lauwaert and his Cambodian lawyer Dy Borima declined to comment when they arrived at the Appeals Court in Phnom Penh.
Court security officials barred journalists from entering the courtroom to cover the proceedings, but no reason was given.
Several of Lauwaert's alleged victims were to appear at the hearing.
Lauwaert was 36 when he was convicted.
Also convicted at the same 2003 hearing was Lauwaert's friend Clinton Rex Betteridge, who was sentenced in absentia by the Siem Reap court to 10 years imprisonment for having sex with underage girls.
Betteridge, who had been released on bail, fled Cambodia to Australia using a replacement passport issued by the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian authorities confiscated his original passport when they released him on bail about a month before the trial in January 2003.
Bart Lauwaert appealed the sentence handed down in 2003 by Siem Reap's provincial court, which convicted him of having sex with girls aged 11 to 14. It was not clear how many girls he allegedly abused.
Lauwaert and his Cambodian lawyer Dy Borima declined to comment when they arrived at the Appeals Court in Phnom Penh.
Court security officials barred journalists from entering the courtroom to cover the proceedings, but no reason was given.
Several of Lauwaert's alleged victims were to appear at the hearing.
Lauwaert was 36 when he was convicted.
Also convicted at the same 2003 hearing was Lauwaert's friend Clinton Rex Betteridge, who was sentenced in absentia by the Siem Reap court to 10 years imprisonment for having sex with underage girls.
Betteridge, who had been released on bail, fled Cambodia to Australia using a replacement passport issued by the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh.
Cambodian authorities confiscated his original passport when they released him on bail about a month before the trial in January 2003.
4 comments:
A sexual predator don't deserve a second chances! A predator like Bar Lauwaert getting 10 years for having sex with minors from ages 11 to 14? Now consider AH Bar Lauwaert who is fuken 36 years old and who is about to die tommorrow! These young little Cambodian girl have so many years ahead of them and the damage done to them by AH Bar Lauwaert will affect them for the rest of their miserable life!These young little girls won't lead a normal life!
How about give this bastard 30years! How many victims molested by this sexual predator? I say 15years for each of his victims!
I say give them all the "DEATH SENTENCE"
If laws were more strict, then maybe these morons will take it more seriously.
He may be a victime of extortion. There is no "DEAT SENTENCE" in Cambodia constitution.
Want the Cambodia Government to intervene, ask Keav Khagnarith, spoke man for Hun Sen's gorvernment, How many young under age girls he had? or ask the prostitude in cambodia who is their first client, when they were under age? 50% will point to the same guy.
No faulty being Khmers man! those thugs not represent khmer, they are Viet Name puppets!
If UN can reform the Today Cambodia Royal Police force, we Cambodian will show how we can use of democracy!!
Lot of good educated Cambodian will come out or go back home to help serve our people!
Viva Khmer! I am proud to be Khmer!!!
Death to the traitor poppet!!!
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