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| ( Heng Sinith / Associated Press ) - American James D’Agostino, center, is escorted by court security personnel at Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. The court has sentenced the American man to four years in prison on charges of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy. |
November 4, 2011
By Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A Cambodian court has sentenced an American man to four years in prison on charges of sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy.
Judge Suos Sam Ath of Phnom Penh Municipal Court said James D’Agostino was found guilty Friday of paying for sexual services from a minor. He paid tuition for the boy, who stayed at his home.
D’Agostino, 56, denied the accusation. He was a volunteer doctor at a children’s hospital in the Cambodian capital and previously worked as a pediatric emergency doctor in Syracuse, N.Y. He was arrested in February after the boy told authorities about his reported actions.
Cambodia has long been a magnet for foreign pedophiles because of poverty and poor law enforcement. In recent years police and courts have increasingly targeted sex offenders.
3 comments:
Ah coward Decho Hun Sen, Mr Sam Rainsy asks you to sue him at France court about you murdered Khmer people. Why don't you dare to do it as you have done at Cambodia court?
Being a strong man as well as Prime Minister of one country, you should not be coward to face the real justice at France court or International court. Unless, you are the real murderer in Cambodia that is the reason why you fear of Mr Sam Rainsy at real and fair justice court.
Decho Hun Sen rubbed Cambodian people well being, health care, dignity and sell Cambodia out to Vietnam in cheap price as long as he can stay in power. Isn't true Samdach Decho Hun Sen?
How many Cambodian people lives have you killed in your life so far? Can you being honest telling the true?
As one Prime Minister of one country his job is bully his own people from talking about Paris Peace agreement 1991 and Vietnam take Cambodia area. Why?
Samdach Decho Hun Sen Why does you so scare of the truth? Why do you so scare of Mr Sam Rainsy when he asks you to sue him at France court? You are strong man as you claim in TV screen.
Samdach Decho Hun Sen shouldn't scare of Mr Sam Rainsy because Mr Sam Rainsy has no weapon mass destruction as you do. You are the murderer; you must be strong in facing with Mr Sam Rainsy at France court as Mr Sam Rainsy invited you to do so.
Samdach Decho billion dollars Hun Sen, PLease face Mr Sam Rainsy as Mr Sam Rainsy invited you through the world media. You used to win on Mr Sam Rainsy many times in Cambodia court of justice. There is no reason why you should be worry about...if you have never killed anyone in Cambodia. Isn’t it Decho Sen?
Cambodian people hope to see Samdach Decho Hun Sen will has gut as a leader or a man to sue Mr Sam Rainsy at France court as Mr Sam Rainsy invited Samdach decho many times through Radio and world media.
Be a man Decho Sen! One in your life be a man Decho Sen! Be a man to face Mr Sam Rainsy at France court and international court.
We are personal bodyguards of Samdach Decho would like to see Decho Hun Sen be a man with Mr Sam Rainsy at France Court. Otherwise, Samdach Decho is not worthy to protect because why do we have to die for protecting a traitor, a murderer, a blood sucker. Isn’t it true Samdach Decho Hun Sen? Do you agree with that?
Investigation must be very thorough over this accusation. Cambodia is a land for sexual exploitation of minors. However, some minors are smart and taught to blackmail forigners for money by accusing them of sexual molestation and reported to the authority if they don't get the money. I am not saying that all those victims are liers but there are some who are using this trick to make a living and they have their pimps look after them. There are a lot of them at Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh sitting around waiting for their opportunity. Sometimes police gets paid too. This is a reason why the authority must thoroughly investigate and check out each case very carefully. To put an innocent person in jail for 4 years and mess up his or her reputation and dignity is just a suacide for the person.
I am a foreigner and I think this guy would have to be crazy or stupid to have some child living at his house. Absolutely he will be investigated and 99% chance of being arrested just for being in that situation.
Cambodia is very strict on protection of children from foreigners now due to NGO pressure so it is very unwise to let any child that is not your own family come to live with you.
I am sure blackmail and extortion happens but if you don't allow yourself to be put it that situation then it is very hard to do.
This guy seems to be guilty however I do not see the newspaper reporting in any detail what his explanation is.
Normally the newspapers only write what the police or NGOs say so it is hard to see the truth because they never give the accused person to speak and defend themselves in the media.
AP and the Phnom Penh Post should do a better job to put all the information from both sides because when they put this story onto the internet it is very damaging. At least they should give a balanced article even if they convicted the guy.
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