AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A Cambodian court cut a convicted Belgian paedophile's prison sentence from 18 years to three years, citing a change in child abuse laws.
Philippe Dessart, 48, was arrested in 2006 in a Phnom Penh guesthouse with a naked 13-year-old boy in his room. He was charged with debauchery and sentenced the same year to 18 years in jail.
The Court of Appeals reduced his sentence after downgrading the charges against Dessart from debauchery to indecent acts against minors.
"The court found Philippe Dessart guilty of committing indecent acts,'' judge Um Sarith said.
Cambodia used to apply its debauchery law to almost all sex crimes, but has recently updated its statutes to include the new charge of indecent acts.
Philippe Dessart, 48, was arrested in 2006 in a Phnom Penh guesthouse with a naked 13-year-old boy in his room. He was charged with debauchery and sentenced the same year to 18 years in jail.
The Court of Appeals reduced his sentence after downgrading the charges against Dessart from debauchery to indecent acts against minors.
"The court found Philippe Dessart guilty of committing indecent acts,'' judge Um Sarith said.
Cambodia used to apply its debauchery law to almost all sex crimes, but has recently updated its statutes to include the new charge of indecent acts.
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