Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Cambodia: American Arrested On Child Sex Charge In Cambodia

2008-09-02
AP

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA: An American man has been detained in Cambodia for allegedly committing a sexual offense against a 13-year-old girl.

Prosecutor Hing Bunchea said Monday a 60-year-old tourist, Richard David Mitchell, was charged with soliciting sex with a minor and sexual molestation.

He said that, if convicted on both charges, the American man could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. He could not provide the hometown of the arrested man.

Urm Rathana, chief of Phnom Penh's anti-human trafficking unit, said police arrested Mitchell at a city park Thursday night (28 Aug).

He said witnesses informed the police after seeing the American expose himself to the girl.

Mitchell's Cambodian lawyer, Uch Sophal, declined to comment on the case.

Poverty and weak law enforcement have made Cambodia a preferred destination for foreigners seeking to prey on children, although local police say they have stepped up efforts against pedophiles.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why there is no comment on the wrongdoing of American?

Need some comments from our Cambodia compatriot in the US, because they know them better.

Anonymous said...

Why the dramatic history of Cambodia is repeated?

how can we reduce the poverty rate of 6 million now?

Everyone must do something! 6 million of the Poor is an insult to all Cambodians even though you got ten Lexus and thousand hectares of land