Perv took my virginity for £250

Exploited ... 12-year-old Kiet (Photo: Marc Giddings, The Sun)

Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Sun (UK)

THE sickening trade in child sex is flourishing worldwide as paedophiles pursue their evil desires at the expense of the most vulnerable members of society. On Day Two of our special investigation into this sordid sex market, SHARON HENDRY relates from Cambodia the harrowing accounts of two innocent young lives defiled by perverts.

Kiet's story

DRESSED in a “teddy” T-shirt and chattering on her mobile phone, 12-year-old Kiet strolls along the pavement of her local town centre.

But Kiet is not out shopping or on her way to meet friends – she is touting for business as a prostitute.

This is the reality of life for thousands of children in the former war-torn Cambodia, where the average annual wage is less than £175 and life expectancy a mere 59 years.

It has made the country a haven for Western paedophiles who exploit the hungry street children, some as young as five.

Brits are among those who cruise bars such as Dolls’ House, Kit Kat and DV8 – the most notorious being pop star Gary Glitter who was deported from the country in 2002 over child sex offences.

Kiet works the streets of a notorious slum area in the capital Phnom Penh. Along with her 14-year-old sister, she quit her job in a garment factory and made the ten-hour bus journey to the city from her village home.

Kiet’s youthful appearance is a precious commodity for local pimps. Speaking in soft tones, she explains how a Western tourist bought her virginity for £250.

I was very nervous because I had never had sex with anyone before or even kissed a boy properly but my pimp told me there was a man prepared to take my virginity for £250.

It was more money than I could earn in months in my old job stitching clothes in a big factory so I had no choice.

The man was kind to me but afterwards I felt like crying because I had always hoped I would first have sex with someone I loved. It was also very painful.

I was allowed to keep that money but now I have to hand over half my earnings to the owner of my brothel. I am expected to get at least four or five clients a day at £5 a time. Some of the other girls have told me horrible stories about how they are treated by some of the men but I am hoping it won’t happen to me.

Srey Mom's story

Tricked ... Srey Mom (Photo: Marc Giddings, The Sun)

THIRTEEN was horribly unlucky for Srey Mom. That is how old she was when she was forced into the sex industry.

The country girl had become separated from her family and was taken to the country’s capital, allegedly to be reunited with her mother.

But there was to be no reunion – Srey Mom was sold to a brothel.

Now 20, she works for a charity warning girls about the Cambodian child sex industry. This is her story.

The brothel owner told me I had been sold to them and I would have to work as a prostitute.

When I refused, they put me in a dark room with no food and water and gave me electric shocks by tying wire around my body and plugging the live ends into the mains supply.

Eventually, I decided to accept customers. I would have sex with between five and 20 per day.

Most of my customers were from places like Britain and America. Lots of them took Viagra so they wanted sex several times.

Sick

There were about 50 girls in the brothel and we were told to charge £2.50 for quick sex.

I hated having sex with strangers – some of them smelled terrible and I was often in a lot of pain.

After a few months, I became very sick and when I could no longer work, the brothel owner sent me to the hospital.

The blood test showed I was HIV positive.

I begged men to use condoms when sleeping with me but most refused and I couldn’t tell them I had HIV because I needed the money to eat.

One day, a taxi driver offered to take me to a hospital which he said would take care of me. During my recovery I met someone from the charity World Vision. They supported me with hospital fees, clothing and even got me antiretroviral drugs.

Later, they asked me to work for them. Now I give talks to groups of girls warning them not to be tricked into prostitution like I was.