Monday, September 18, 2006

Child Sex Abuse Suspect Not On the Run: Lawyer

Monday, September 18, 2006

By James Welsh
THE CAMBODIA DAILY


Notorious American pedophile suspect Terry Darrell Smith remains in Phnom Penh and is not on the run from the law, his lawyer said Sunday. Lawyer Khieu Sambo said Smith is still receiving treatment for a 1970s head injury, and will return to Sihanoukville Municipal Court as soon as he feels better. "He's not in hiding," the lawyer said, adding Smith is regularly attending several hospitals in the capital. Dr Kong Phirum, chief of neurology at Calmette Hospital, said Smith went there for treatment Sunday. Sihanoukville court released Smith, 54, and his Cambodian girlfriend Chea Sovannary, 26, Aug 31, one month after charging them both with debauchery. The court said Smith had to be released due to health problems. Antipedophile NGO International Justice Mission has voiced strong concern about the release. Vi Beaty, a sex-offender Registration manager in Oregon, wrote in an e-mail Saturday that Smith was required to register as a sex offender there following a 1991 conviction relating to child pornography. Khieu Sambo said his client is innocent.

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