Sun. Mar. 9 2008CTV.ca News Staff (Canada)
Canadian Christopher Neil, accused of sex crimes against children in Thailand, will appear in court Monday in Bangkok to have his trial date set.
"We are expecting tomorrow to be somewhat procedural," CTV's Steve Chao told Newsnet on Sunday from Beijing. "The prosecution is expected to set a date for them to present the evidence against Neil."
The key witnesses are two young Thai brothers who allege that Neil sexually abused them. They were aged nine and 14 at the time of the alleged offences.
Neil has been charged in Bangkok Criminal Court with:
"The prosecution over this past week has refused to speak to us about what evidence they have against him ... So the question is, do the Thai authorities have more evidence against him than the two boys who have come forward," Chao said.
Neil, 32, became the object of an international manhunt after police officers in Germany managed to digitally restore altered photos of a man having sex with children.
The photos were reportedly taken in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
Authorities in Vietnam and Cambodia also want to interview Neil, who is originally from Maple Ridge, B.C. He had been working in Asia as an English teacher.
Neil was finally arrested in Thailand last October. "Thailand for a long time has been seen as a place where fugitives can hide and enjoy relative security away from the prying eyes of police," Chao said, adding it also has a reputation as a playground for pedophiles.
This past week, a reputed Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, was arrested in Thailand.
Thai authorities say the increasing numbers of foreigners being charged and deported shows they are taking the issues of child sex tourism and being a perceived fugitive haven seriously.
"We are expecting tomorrow to be somewhat procedural," CTV's Steve Chao told Newsnet on Sunday from Beijing. "The prosecution is expected to set a date for them to present the evidence against Neil."
The key witnesses are two young Thai brothers who allege that Neil sexually abused them. They were aged nine and 14 at the time of the alleged offences.
Neil has been charged in Bangkok Criminal Court with:
- Taking a child under 15 without parental consent with intent to molest, punishable by up to 20 years in prison;
- Illegal detention, punishable by up to three years;
- Sexual abuse of a child under 15, punishable by up to 10 years.
"The prosecution over this past week has refused to speak to us about what evidence they have against him ... So the question is, do the Thai authorities have more evidence against him than the two boys who have come forward," Chao said.
Neil, 32, became the object of an international manhunt after police officers in Germany managed to digitally restore altered photos of a man having sex with children.
The photos were reportedly taken in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
Authorities in Vietnam and Cambodia also want to interview Neil, who is originally from Maple Ridge, B.C. He had been working in Asia as an English teacher.
Neil was finally arrested in Thailand last October. "Thailand for a long time has been seen as a place where fugitives can hide and enjoy relative security away from the prying eyes of police," Chao said, adding it also has a reputation as a playground for pedophiles.
This past week, a reputed Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout, was arrested in Thailand.
Thai authorities say the increasing numbers of foreigners being charged and deported shows they are taking the issues of child sex tourism and being a perceived fugitive haven seriously.
No comments:
Post a Comment