Thursday, March 15, 2007

Italy Hands Out First Jail Term for Sex Tourism

Javno (Croatia)

A Milan court sentenced a man on Thursday to 14 years in prison for exploiting underage girls in southeast Asia

Milan court sentenced a man on Thursday to 14 years in prison for exploiting underage girls in southeast Asia, the first time Italy has jailed someone for sex tourism, judicial sources said.

Giorgio Samec, 56, whose exploits in Cambodia and Thailand first came to light when he was interviewed by a satirical television programme, was accused of trafficking 10 minors between the two countries to push them into prostitution.

Samec, who was arrested in September 2005, was found guilty of exploiting minors, sexual assault, introducing minors to prostitution and holding child pornography material.

Italy passed laws in 1998 that outlawed organising sex tours involving minors and made it easier for culprits to be punished for crimes committed abroad.

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