Phnom Penh (dpa) - Cambodian police expected to charge two German nationals with child sex related offenses Tuesday and said they were investigating whether the pair held the key to cracking an organized pedophile network.
The deputy chief of anti-trafficking police, Keo Thea, said the pair were arrested Sunday and Monday respectively along with three Vietnamese nationals and police were still examining a mountain of evidence, including child pornography videos which were allegedly found in the first man's home and allegedly feature the second man.
Court officials at Phnom Penh Municipal Court said they expected to charge Karl Heinz Henning, 60, and Thomas Sigwart Eugen Baron von Engelhardt, 42, with debauchery - the Cambodian name for pedophilia charges - and human trafficking by Tuesday afternoon. They declined to give details on the three Vietnamese adults arrested.
"This is the result of months of investigations, not just a hunch. We have a lot of evidence," Thea said by telephone. "We are now questioning all the people arrested over this case and we hope to arrest more. This is a big case."
He said police acted on a tip-off from neighbours who were suspicious of the comings and goings of "many" young girls through Henning's Phnom Penh apartment and had been watching the home for some time while awaiting an opportunity to pounce.
Police allege they found more than 20 pornographic movies in Henning's home as well as computer equipment and hard drives featuring a number of Vietamese girls engaging in sexual acts and aged between 10 and 14. The age of consent in Cambodia is 15.
Five Vietnamese girls had been rescued and questioned in connection with the case, he added.
Thea said that due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and the possibility that police hoped that they may have cracked an organized pedophile network, he could not reveal further details surrounding the case except to say it may prove a major breakthrough.
It was unclear what part of Germany the pair originated from.
Thea said Henning had been held under observation in Calmette Hospital since his arrest after jumping eight metres from a balcony in an attempt to escape but had now been certified fit by doctors. Engelhardt was being held in police custody, authorities said.
Cambodia, long seen as a haven for pedophiles, has arrested and jailed a host of child molesters in recent years. If convicted, the accused face up to 20 years in prison on the debauchery charges alone. The pair can be remanded up to six months while awaiting trial.
The deputy chief of anti-trafficking police, Keo Thea, said the pair were arrested Sunday and Monday respectively along with three Vietnamese nationals and police were still examining a mountain of evidence, including child pornography videos which were allegedly found in the first man's home and allegedly feature the second man.
Court officials at Phnom Penh Municipal Court said they expected to charge Karl Heinz Henning, 60, and Thomas Sigwart Eugen Baron von Engelhardt, 42, with debauchery - the Cambodian name for pedophilia charges - and human trafficking by Tuesday afternoon. They declined to give details on the three Vietnamese adults arrested.
"This is the result of months of investigations, not just a hunch. We have a lot of evidence," Thea said by telephone. "We are now questioning all the people arrested over this case and we hope to arrest more. This is a big case."
He said police acted on a tip-off from neighbours who were suspicious of the comings and goings of "many" young girls through Henning's Phnom Penh apartment and had been watching the home for some time while awaiting an opportunity to pounce.
Police allege they found more than 20 pornographic movies in Henning's home as well as computer equipment and hard drives featuring a number of Vietamese girls engaging in sexual acts and aged between 10 and 14. The age of consent in Cambodia is 15.
Five Vietnamese girls had been rescued and questioned in connection with the case, he added.
Thea said that due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and the possibility that police hoped that they may have cracked an organized pedophile network, he could not reveal further details surrounding the case except to say it may prove a major breakthrough.
It was unclear what part of Germany the pair originated from.
Thea said Henning had been held under observation in Calmette Hospital since his arrest after jumping eight metres from a balcony in an attempt to escape but had now been certified fit by doctors. Engelhardt was being held in police custody, authorities said.
Cambodia, long seen as a haven for pedophiles, has arrested and jailed a host of child molesters in recent years. If convicted, the accused face up to 20 years in prison on the debauchery charges alone. The pair can be remanded up to six months while awaiting trial.
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