Cambodia's islands up for grabs [-A country for sale ... down to the last island, if it is not given to Vietnam yet]

A view from the pristine beaches on Koh Rong island, off Sihanoukville. The island is one of 28 in Cambodia earmarked for development. Photograph: Will Baxter/Phnom Penh Post

Friday, 17 August 2012
May Titthara and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

Some of the most audacious Cambodian island developments have been connected to shady individuals, including convicted pedophile Alexander Trofimov, who allegedly drove to his resort on Koh Pos from prison regularly before he was pardoned by the king last year.

Adhoc’s list of soon-to-be concessionaires includes a veritable who’s who of controversial development including LYP Group (Koh Kong Knong), TTY Corporation Co, Ltd (Koh Koan) and Try Pheap Company (Koh Tonsay), all firms that have been involved in major land disputes.

More than 180,000 hectares on 28 of Cambodia’s 64 islands were reclassified as state private property for 31 companies seeking land concessions between 2008 and 2010, government sub-decrees reveal.

The reclassification sub-decrees, compiled by investigators at the rights group Adhoc, pave the way for firms to secure 99-year leases to develop hotels, resorts and casinos, mostly on islands dotted across the coasts of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong province.

They include already popular destinations off Preah Sihanouk and Kep province such as Koh Tonsay (Rabbit Island), Koh Russey (Bamboo Island), Koh Rong, Koh Rong Somleom and Koh Takhieo, as well as far more obscure enclaves.

Experts in the investment and conservation communities have told the Post that on top of these land reclassifications, many of which have since gained final approval, plots have been earmarked for development by private firms on almost every single island in the Kingdom.

Royal Pardon for Sex Offender - Cambodia Justice Is for Sale

22 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

Royal Pardon for innocent villagers and political prisoners-YES!

A short-cut Royal Pardon for sex offenders-NO!

Justice for sale in Cambodia must be stopped. It is immoral and shameful.

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Cambodian government’s handling of Trofimov case was unpardonable

Friday, 22 June 2012
Mu Sochua

Mu Sochua (right) with democracy icon and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon late last year. Photograph: supplied

It goes without saying that the extradition or deportation of Alexander Trofimov is long overdue. However, questions still remain about the irregularities in the sentencing and pardoning of this serial sex offender. The entire case has been riddled with inconsistencies and allegations of high-level corruption. The shortcomings of the Cambodian judiciary have only served to compound the culture of impunity that exists in this country.

Trofimov, who became the focus of Cambodia’s largest-ever paedophilia case, had been convicted of procuring sex from 17 girls between the ages of six and 13. Trofimov himself admitted to sexually abusing 16 of the girls.

During the appeal process, the Russian Embassy in Phnom Penh requested his extradition stating that Trofimov was wanted for the sexual abuse of at least three minors in Russia. The Russian Embassy’s statement added to the wealth of evidence which showed that there was absolutely no doubt that Trofimov was a serious and dangerous serial sex offender and that the likelihood of him reoffending was extremely high.

Disgraced pedophile finally booted out

Russian pedophile Alexander Trofimov (left) rides a jet ski with two unidentified females near Sihanoukville in this undated photograph. Photograph: supplied

Friday, 22 June 2012
Sokha Hotel
The Phnom Penh Post

If all went according to plan last night, Russian pedophile Alexander Trofimov is finally another country’s problem.

Authorities were to put the convicted sex offender on a South Korea-bound flight late yesterday evening, booting him out from the Kingdom and ending months of speculation and outrage that followed his December pardon.

“Wherever he goes from Seoul is up to him,” Chhay Sinarith, director of the Internal Security Department at the Ministry of Interior, said.

Why Trofimov, also known as Stanislav Molodyakov, was sent to South Korea instead of Russia, where he holds citizenship and is also wanted on sexual abuse charges, was not clear.

Cambodia Expels Russian Pedophile

Alexander Trofimov seen with young girls in Cambodia

Pardoned by the king, the Russian businessman was later found living with an underage girl.

2012-06-21

Radio Free Asia

Cambodian authorities moved Thursday night to deport a Russian businessman convicted of sexually abusing more than a dozen Cambodian girls and later pardoned by the country’s king.

Alexander Trofimov, also known as Stanislav Molodyakov, was scheduled to be put on a plane at 11:00 p.m. Cambodia time and deported to Russia, where he is wanted on additional charges of rape.

Speaking to RFA, Cambodian Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak said that the Russian embassy in Cambodia had completed their share of the paperwork related to Trofimov’s return to Russia.

“They already confirmed that they have the paperwork,” he said.

“The documents show that [Trofimov] will be deported to Russia and will not be allowed to return.”

Cambodia to Deport Russian Pedophile [-Sihamoni pardons a pedophile, but ignores the innocent BKL-15!!!]

Alexander Trofimov smokes a cigarette after his verdict at the Phnom Penh municipal court, March 14, 2008. (AFP)

Authorities will expel the former businessman who was pardoned last year by the King of Cambodia.

2012-06-06

Radio Free Asia

Cambodian authorities are working with Moscow to deport a notorious Russian pedophile arrested this week with an underage girl just months after he was pardoned by King Norodom Sihamoni following his conviction of sexually abusing more than a dozen Cambodian girls.

“Alexander Trofimov is being detained temporarily under our authority. The Ministry of the Interior has decided to expel him,” Minister of the Interior Khieu Sopheak said, amid talks between Cambodian officials and the Russian Embassy.

Trofimov was arrested in 2007 in Cambodia's largest-ever pedophilia case. He was convicted of buying sex from 17 girls between the ages of six and 13 and sentenced to 17 years in prison, but later had his sentence reduced to eight years by an appeals court.

In December last year he was pardoned through a royal decree following a government request made to the king through Cambodia’s council of ministers and released from jail.

Cambodia 'to deport' Russian pedophile [-About time!]

Trofimov with a young girl (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Tue Jun 5 2012
AAP

A Russian pedophile controversially pardoned in Cambodia's largest-known child sex scandal will be deported after he was arrested at the home of a teenage girl.

Alexander Trofimov, who built a $US300 million ($A309.71 million) tourist resort in the country, was arrested at the house of an underaged girl outside of Phnom Penh, police spokesman Kirt Chantharith told AFP, adding authorities will try to deport him shortly.

"Police arrested him (on Monday) ... while he was hiding with a local family," Chantharith said, adding that the Russian "loved the family's daughter, who is 11 or 12 years old".

"According to policy, we will have to expel him very soon."

Trofimov arrest order sends ‘strong message’ [... way too late?]

Trofimov with young Cambodian girls (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Thursday, 29 March 2012
Vong Sokheng
The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia's police finally have the green light to pursue, arrest and expel notorious Russian pedophile Alexander Trofimov, but at least some of them believe he may have already slipped over the border.

Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Tak Vantha said police had begun searching for Trofimov after receiving an order for his arrest from the Ministry of Interior last week.

“I think that he disappeared from the province for a long time. I heard recent rumours (while investigating) that he may have escaped to Vietnam or Thailand,” Tak Vantha said.

Chaos blurs hunt for pedo

Convicted pedophile Alexander Trofimov (right) poses with a young unidentified girl in this undated photograph. (Photo Supplied)

Tuesday, 03 January 2012
Vincent MacIsaac and Vong Sokheng with additional reporting by May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Serial pedophile Alexander Trofimov’s whereabouts remain a matter of speculation or denial, with provincial police in Preah Sihanouk saying they lost track of him the day after Christmas, national police saying they are not even looking for him, border police requesting photographs and government spokesmen either saying they know nothing or offering hunches.

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak told the Post yesterday that he did not know whether the recently released Russian national – who is wanted in his home country for alleged sex crimes against six girls aged nine and 10 – was still in Cambodia or had left for another country.

“I am not sure about Trofimov’s whereabouts. He may be in the country or out of the country. We have searched for Trofimov’s name [on records at immigration checkpoints], but it has not shown up,” he said.

Petition to deport pedophile Alexander Trofimov

Recently pardoned pedophile Alexander Trofimov on a jet ski with a girl and an unidentified woman off a beach near Sihanoukville. The date the photo, which was supplied to the Post by an anonymous source, was taken is unknown.

Tuesday, 03 January 2012
Post Staff
The Phnom Penh Post

A coalition of 14 international and national NGOs working to protect children in Cambodia have petitioned Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Ministry of Interior Sor Kheng, requesting that Russian pedophile Alexander Trofimov be deported from Cambodia. Trofimov, also known as Stanislav Molodyakov, is believed to be in Sihanoukville, following his controversial release from Preah Sihanouk provincial prison on December 20.

As international and local non-governmental organisations registered with the Ministry of Interior or Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborate with the Royal Government of Cambodia in preventing, protecting and eradicating human trafficking and sexual exploitation especially of children, we are honoured to inform, Excellency, that: Alexander Trofimov, alias SASA, male, 45 – the former director of Snake Island Investment Co in Preah Sihanouk province – was arrested by Cambodian police from the Department of Anti Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection in October 2007 on three different charges:

Criminal file No 1495 dated 05/9/2007 of Phnom Penh municipal court, involving a 13 year-old girl, under charge of debauchery; Criminal file No 328 dated 22/10/2007 of Preah Sihanouk provincial court, involving an eight-year-old girl, under charge of purchase of child prostitution; and Criminal file No 330 dated 25/10/2007 of Preah Sihanouk provincial court, involving 15 girls aged six to 17 years, under charge of indecent act against minors under 15.

Summary of Facts

While he was in Preah Sihanouk province in 2004-2007, Alexander Trofimov, alias SASA contracted, lured, tricked and procured at least 21 underage girls from seven brokers for sexual abuse perpetrated at Snake Island, Snake House guesthouse and his rented residence in Preah Sihanouk province. In 2007, with NGOs’ assistance, four and later more families filed formal complaints with Preah Sihanouk provincial anti-human trafficking police, subsequently leading to arrest of Alexander Trofimov and his seven brokers who provided girls to him.

A total of 21 girls, including a mute girl, were rescued and brought to care by NGOs. Two girls known as Alexander Trofimov’s fostered daughters later dropped the charges and three others were classified as witnesses by the Court, leaving 16 girls to testify.

NGOs want pardoned pedophile deported

Convicted pedophile Alexander Trofimov (right), former chairman of the Koh Pous Investment Company, is escorted by a prison security official after a session at the appeal court in Phnom Penh in June 2010. (Reuters)

Monday, 02 January 2012
Vincent MacIsaac
The Phnom Penh Post

National and international NGOs have petitioned Minister of Interior Sar Kheng to have serial pedophile Alexander Trofimov deported from Cambodia, noting that a repeat offence is likely for criminals of his type.

“We fear that Alexander Trofimov will again abuse children as he did after escaping his past in Russia,” reads the petition signed by 14 NGOs, including World Vision, Save the Children, Licadho and Action Pour les Enfants. It was delivered to the ministry on Friday.

Trofimov, is known on “Interpol’s wanted list as Stanislav Molodyakov” and is “reported to have raped six girls aged nine [to] 10 years in Russia”, the petition said, adding that a request to extradite him to Russia had been ignored.

He was released from Preah Sihanouk provincial prison by royal pardon on December 20 after serving slightly more than four years of an eight-year sentence for sex crimes against 17 girls. Prior to his arrest, Trofimov had led a US$300 million project to turn Snake Island into a luxury tourism resort, complete with a bridge linking it to Sihanoukville.

ជន​រងគ្រោះ​បារម្ភ បន្ទាប់​ពី​ការ​ដោះលែង​ជន​រំលោភ​លើ​កុមារ

Wednesday, 28 December 2011 12:02
ម៉ៃ ទិត្យថារ៉ា
The Phnom Penh Post

ព្រះសីហនុៈ អ្នក​ភូមិ​រងគ្រោះ បាន​អះអាង​កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​អង្គារ​ថា ជន​រងគ្រោះ ២២​គ្រួសារ ដោយ​សារ​តែ​លោក Alexader Trofimov អតីត​ប្រធាន​ក្រុមហ៊ុន​វិនិយោគ​កោះ​ពស់ ក្នុង​រឿង​រំលោភ​កុមារ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា បាន​បារម្ភ​អំពី​សុវត្ថិភាព​កូនៗ​ពួក​គេ បន្ទាប់​ពី​លោក Alexader ត្រូវ​ដោះលែង​ពី​ពន្ធនាគារ​នា​សប្តាហ៍​មុន។

ម៉ៅ រិន វ័យ ១៧ ឆ្នាំ ជា​ឈ្មោះ​ជន​រងគ្រោះ​ដែល​សន្មត​ដាក់​ឲ្យ​ដែល​ត្រូវ​លោក Alexader Trofimov រំលោភ​នាង កាល​នៅ​វ័យ​៨-៩​ឆ្នាំ បាន​ឲ្យ ដឹង​ថា នាង​បារម្ភ អំពី​សុវត្ថិភាព បន្ទាប់​ពី​ឮ​អំពី​ការ​ដោះលែង​បុរស​ម្នាក់​នេះ​ពី​ពន្ធនាគារ។ នាង​និយាយ​ថា ៖ «នៅ​ពេល​ដែល​ខ្ញុំ​ទទួល​ដំណឹង​នោះ ខ្ញុំ​នឹក​ឃើញ​អ្វី​ៗ​គ្រប់​យ៉ាង​ដែល​គាត់​បាន​ធ្វើ​មក​លើ​រូប​ខ្ញុំ កាល​ពី​ខ្ញុំ​នៅ​វ័យ​ក្មេង»។

នាង​អះអាង​ថា នាង​ចង់​ឲ្យ​អាជ្ញាធរ​ឃុំ​ខ្លួន លោក Alexander ក្នុង​ពន្ធនាគារ​មួយ​ជីវិត ឬ​បណ្តេញ​គាត់​ចេញ​ពី​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ព្រោះ​នាង​ខ្លាច​ថា គាត់​នឹង​សងសឹក​ជាមួយ​មនុស្ស​ដែល​ប្តឹង​គាត់។ នាង​ថា ៖ «ខ្ញុំ មិន​ដឹង​ថា ត្រូវ​ធ្វើ​យ៉ាងម៉េច​ទេ បើ​គាត់​មក​គំរាម​កំហែង​អាយុ​ជីវិត​គ្រួសារ​ខ្ញុំ»។ នាង​បន្ត​ថា​៖ «ខ្ញុំ​មិន​អាច​រក​ពាក្យ​អ្វី​មក​និយាយ​បាន​ទេ ជុំវិញ​រឿង​គួរ​ឲ្យ​រន្ធត់​របស់​ខ្ញុំ។ ជានិច្ច​កាល ខ្ញុំ​តែង​សុបិន​ឃើញ​រឿងរ៉ាវ​ខ្ញុំ​កាល​នៅ​ពី​ក្មេង។ ខ្ញុំ ខ្លាច​ថា វា​នឹង​កើត​ឡើង​ចំពោះ​ខ្ញុំ​ម្តង​ទៀត»។

Victims wake to pedophile nightmare in Sihanoukville

A girl who was sexually abused at age 11 by Russian pedophile Alexander Trofimov rests in a hammock at her rented house in Preah Sihanouk province in August 2010. At the time the photo was taken the girl was aged 15. (Reuters)

Wednesday, 28 December 2011
May Titthara and Vincent MacIsaac
The Phnom Penh Post

For Mao Rin, not her real name, the past week has sent her back to the time when she was eight or nine years old. She is not sure exactly how old she was when it happened because she has blocked most of it out of her mind.

“I always dreamed about that story,” she said yesterday, referring to the series of sexual assaults she experienced from serial pedophile Alexander Trofimov. Now, however, the nightmares she had learned to shake herself out of have returned as thoughts that shock her while she is awake. “I cannot find the words to describe what I felt when I heard he was released,” she told the Post. “Now, I remember everything he did to me when I was a child.”

Trofimov, who was convicted of sex crimes against 17 girls from 2005 to 2007, most from the coastal resort of Sihanoukville, is now living in a villa next to a primary school behind Sokha Beach, provincial police told the Post yesterday.

នយោបាយសេដ្នកិច្ចរបស់ ដែក ចោរ គឹត្រួវរកស៊ីជាមួយពួក ជន​ប្រ​ព្រឹ​ត្ដ​អំពើ​អនាចារ​ - Hun Xen's economic policy: Doing business with PEDOPHILES

អាឡិចសាន់ដ៏ ត្រូហ្វីមូហ្វ (Alexander Trofimov) ជក់​បារី បន្ទាប់​ពី​ការ​ប្រកាស​សាលក្រម នៅ​សាលាដំបូង​រាជធានី​ភ្នំពេញ កាល​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​១៤ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ​២០០៨។ (AFP)

Release of Russian tycoon is for national interest: Hun Xen’s government

25 Dec 2011
By Chun Chanbotr and Yun Samean
RFA
Translated from Khmer by Soch

On Saturday 24 Dec, Phay Siphan, the mouthpiece of the Council of Ministers, claimed that the request to the king to release Alxander Trofimov, the Russian tycoon, was done for national interest (sic!). Phay Siphan said that the release of Trofimov was not done in exchange for development of Koh Pous Island in Sihanoukville. “First of all, his sentence was completed. He was completed one portion of his jail sentence already… Therefore, the portion of the sentence is another story, but it will clearly bring good outcome, this is why the government asked for the king to pardon him,” Phay Siphan said. This is the first time that a government official reply to criticisms against the release of Trofimov.

Somnieng Sila, director of the “Action pour Les Enfants” NGO, said : “This sex act included buying somebody etc…, therefore it is an immoral action and it greatly affects the customs of our country. Furthermore, since he [Alexander Trofimov] is rich, when the sentence is lessened too much, it could also affect the justice system in the future. The public thinks that, because he is rich, this is why the [sentence] is lessened like this. Therefore, it does not look good, even if the release is done according to the law.

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រដ្ឋាភិបាល៖ ការ​ដោះ​លែង​ទណ្ឌិត​ថៅកែ​ជនជាតិ​រូស៊ី​គឺ​ដើម្បី​ប្រយោជន៍​ជាតិ

ដោយ ជុន ច័ន្ទបុត្រ និង យន់ សាមៀន
2011-12-25
RFA

មន្ត្រី​អ្នក​នាំ​ពាក្យ​ទីស្ដីការ​គណៈរដ្ឋមន្ត្រី លោក C នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​សៅរ៍ ទី​២៤ បាន​អះអាង​ថា ការ​ស្នើ​សុំ​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ​ដោះលែង​ទណ្ឌិត​ថៅកែ​ជនជាតិ​រូស៊ី លោក អាឡិចសាន់ដ៏ ត្រូហ្វីមូហ្វ (Alexander Trofimov) ធ្វើ​ឡើង​ដើម្បី​ប្រយោជន៍​ជាតិ។

លោក ផៃ ស៊ីផាន បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ការ​សម្រេច​ចិត្ត​នេះ​ជា​សិទ្ធិ​សម្រេច​របស់​កម្ពុជា។

អាឡិចសាន់ដ៏ ត្រូហ្វីមូហ្វ ដែល​មាន​ឈ្មោះ​ពិត​ថា ស្តានីស្លាវ មូឡូឌីយ៉ាកូវ (Stanislav Molodyakov) ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ចាប់​ខ្លួន​កាល​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​២០០៧ ហើយ​ត្រូវ​បាន​តុលាការ​កម្ពុជា រក​ឃើញ​ថា មាន​ទោស​ពី​បទ​រំលោភ​ក្មេង​ស្រី​ចំនួន ១៧​នាក់ អាយុ​ពី ៦ ទៅ ១៣​ឆ្នាំ។ នៅ​ប្រទេស​កំណើត​រូស៊ី របស់​គាត់​វិញ ស្តានីស្លាវ មូឡូឌីយ៉ាកូវ ឬ​អាឡិចសាន់ដ៏ ត្រូហ្វីមូហ្វ ក៏​ត្រូវ​គេ​តាម​ចាប់​ខ្លួន​ពី​បទ​រំលោភ​កុមារ ៦​នាក់ អាយុ​ពី ៩ ទៅ ១០​ឆ្នាំ។

ជនបរទេស​រំលោភ​ក្មេងម្នាក់ទៀត​ត្រូវបានដោះលែង - Another foreing pedophile released: Kingdom of Extraordinary Wonder (KEW)

Alexander Moritz Watrin

Alexander Trofimov

Friday, 23 December 2011 12:01
ឆាយ ចន្ទនីដា និង Vincent
The Phnom Penh Post

The jail warden indicated that a second man who was had sex with children walked out the Preah Sihanouk jail in the afternoon of Tuesday after he was pardoned by the king. Alexander Watrin, a German man sentenced to 7 years of jail time for having sex with 4 days under the age of 15 was released on the same day as Alexander Trofimov, the Russian man who also has sex with children.

ខេត្តព្រះសីហនុៈ បុរស​ទី ២ ដែលបាន​រួមភេទ​ជាមួយ​នឹង​កុមារ បាន​ដើរ​ចេញ ដោយ​មាន​សេរីភាព ​ពី​ពន្ធនាគារ​ខេត្ត​ព្រះសីហនុ​ កាលពី​រសៀល​ថ្ងៃ​អង្គារ បន្ទាប់ពី​បាន​ទទួល​ការលើកលែង​ទោសពី​ព្រះមហាក្សត្រ។ នេះ​បើ​យោង​តាម​ប្រធាន​ពន្ធនា​គារ​ បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​កាលពី​ម្សិលមិញ។

លោក ពេជ្រ វាសនា ​ប្រធាន​ពន្ធនាគារ​ បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ​លោក Alexander Watrin ​ជន​ជាតិ​អាល្លឺម៉ង់ ​ដែល​ជាប់​ពន្ធនា​គារ​រយៈ​ពេល ៧ ឆ្នាំ ពី​បទ​រួម​ភេទ​ជាមួយ​នឹង​ក្មេង​ប្រុស ៤ នាក់ អាយុ​ក្រោម ១៥ ឆ្នាំ ​ត្រូវ​បាន​ដោះ​លែង​ឲ្យ​មានសេរីភាព នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​ដដែល​ ដែល​លោក​ Alexander Trofimov ​បុរស​ជនជាតិរុស្ស៊ី រួម​ភេទ​ ជាមួយ​នឹង​កុមារត្រូវ​បាន​ដោះលែង។ ​លោក ពេជ្រ វាសនា បាន​ប្រាប់​ភ្នំពេញ​ ប៉ុស្តិ៍ថា៖ «គាត់​ជាប់​ជិត​បាន ៦ ឆ្នាំ​ នៃ​ទោស ​៧ ឆ្នាំ​»។ ​លោក​​ថ្លែង​ថា ​លោក​មិនដឹងទេថា​ តើ​អ្នក​ទាំង​ពីរ​ទៅទីណា ហើយ​បាន​បដិសេធ​មិន​ផ្តល់​ការ​អត្ថា​ធិប្បាយ​ឡើយ ​ពេល​អ្នក​សារព័ត៌​មាន​សួរ​នាំ​ពី​ផល​ប៉ះ​ពាល់​នៃ​ការ​ដោះលែង​ជន​ដែល​ចូលចិត្ត​រួម​ភេទ​ជាមួយ​កុមារ​បែបនេះ​។

Pedophile Pardoned On [Hun Xen's] Government Request

Alexander Trofimov smokes a cigarette after his verdict at the Phnom Penh municipal court, March 14, 2008. (AFP)

Anti-human trafficking groups criticize Cambodia for amnesty decision.

2011-12-23

Radio Free Asia

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's government asked the country's King Norodom Sihamoni to pardon a Russian businessman convicted of sexually abusing more than a dozen girls in Cambodia, according to a prince.

Prince Sisowath Thomico told RFA in an interview Friday that the king granted an amnesty to Alexander Trofimov, who was freed on Tuesday, based on a government request.

Trofimov, who became the focus of Cambodia's largest-ever pedophilia case, had been convicted of buying sex from 17 girls between the ages of six and 13.

Anti-human trafficking groups have expressed dismay over his release, saying it would be a bad example for criminals.

Cambodian appeals court halves sentence of Russian convicted of child sex charges

Thursday, August 26, 2010
By Sopheng Cheang (CP)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — A former Russian businessman convicted of sexually abusing more than a dozen Cambodian girls had his prison term reduced on Thursday from 17 years to eight.

An Appeals Court cut the sentence of Alexander Trofimov on the grounds that he had apologized to the victims and their families and had been unaware that he had committed an offence under Cambodian law.

Trofimov, 43, had been chairman of a Russian-led investment group given the right to develop a Cambodian tourist island. He was arrested in October 2007 and convicted in three separate cases of offences against various girls.

Nuon Phanith, a lawyer for the victims, told reporters he was surprised by the ruling, and he expected that the public would also find it hard to accept because it was such a high-profile case.

"To reduce it to eight years in jail is unacceptable," Nuon Phanith said.

Cambodia has long been a magnet for foreign pedophiles, though the courts have stepped up action against sex offenders in recent years.

Trofimov was arrested in October 2007 on allegations he had abused as many as 19 girls since 2005, mostly at his home in the coastal town of Sihanoukville.

Trofimov at the time was a chairman of Koh Puos Investment Group Ltd., which in September 2006 received permission from the Cambodian government to develop an island off the town into a tourist resort with an initial investment of up to $300 million. He was dismissed from his job after being charged.

In March 2008, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced him to 13 years in prison for a sexual offence against a 14-year-old girl in the capital, but the term was reduced to six years on appeal.

In November that year, the Sihanoukville Court sentenced him to eight years in prison for purchasing a child for prostitution, and added a further three years in January 2009 in a separate case involving 17 underage girls.

The cases were combined in the appeals court at the Russian's request.

Cambodian court jails Russian for 8 yrs for child sex

Phnom Penh, Aug 26 (AFP) A Cambodian appeals court today ordered a Russian businessman to serve a reduced prison sentence of eight years for buying sex from 17 under-age girls, including a deaf victim.

Alexander Trofimov was arrested in 2007 after six girls aged between six and 13 accused him of sexual abuse.

Since then, many more young girls have filed complaints against the property developer, making him the focus of Cambodia's largest-ever paedophilia case.

The court found that Trofimov paid up to USD 2,000 a time to have sex with virgins.

He had been convicted in three separate cases and handed a total of 17 years in prison.

But in light of Trofimov's confessions, remorse, and lack of understanding of Cambodian customs and laws, he deserved a reduction of the sentence, said judge Seng Sivutha of the Court of Appeal.

Russian pedophile case riles rights groups in Cambodia

Alexander Trofimov

2010-08-26
By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A Russian businessman accused of sexually abusing 17 children in Cambodia's largest-known pedophile case had his sentence reduced to eight years from 17 on Thursday in an appeal that riled human rights advocates.

Lawyers for Alexander Trofimov, 43, who is also wanted by Interpol and Russia for suspected sex offences, said there was no solid evidence to prove he had abused 17 girls while working as a director of a holiday resort company.

The judge said Trofimov paid as little as $5 and as much as $2,000 for sex with girls from 2006 to 2007 in Cambodia's seaside Preah Sihanouk province but reduced the sentence because he apologized and, as a foreigner, did not know the local laws.

Trofimov is the highest-profile case brought to court since Cambodia launched an anti-pedophile drive three years ago to ditch its reputation as a haven for foreign child abusers. The number of victims makes it the largest on record.

"The court's decision is surprising. The public will have difficulty accepting this," Noun Phanith, lawyer for the victims, told reporters. "Eight years is unacceptable."

The move comes as Cambodia, a country blighted by poverty, corruption, human rights abuses and a thriving sex industry, seeks to clean up its image and attract foreign investment.

Since 2008, 64 suspected pedophiles, mostly foreigners, have been arrested, with 45 convictions so far, according to Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), a French group working closely with Cambodia's police to track sex offenders.

Bith Kimhong, head of Cambodia's Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department, said there was a worrying trend of sex and rape involving children but that Cambodia was committed to stamping out a crime that was hurting its image.

"We want the offender to stay in prison for a long time. That is our work. But the sentence is the court's authority," he said.

Trofimov was executive director of Koh Puos Investment Group until his arrest in 2007 and lived in Sihanoukville, a beach town infamous for child prostitution and a magnet for pedophiles driven out of neighboring countries after similar crackdowns.

His company was leading a $300 million resort and shopping development for an island off Preah Sihanouk.

"Does our judiciary help to protect children or does it assist sex offenders?" said Naly Pilorge, director of local human-rights rights group Licadho.

"Apologizing or paying out-of-court settlements to victims cannot warrant reducing the sentence of child sex offenders."

Trofimov was originally charged with abusing 19 underage girls but the number was reduced after his appeal to 17.

Cambodia rejected Russia's request to extradite Trofimov to face similar charges in his home country where is he is known as Stanislav Molodyakov and wanted by Interpol .

Peng Maneth, a lawyer who represented one of his victims, a 14-year-old girl, described the Russian as a dangerous man who should never be freed. "He didn't just invest in (resorts), he also invested in sex with children," Peng Maneth said.

(Writing by Jason Szep; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Corruption competition in Hun Sen's govt: Forged document to release child sex offender Alexander Trofimov

Alexander Trofimov

Justice Official Arrested for Fraud

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
18 June 2009

A senior official at the Ministry of Justice was arrested Wednesday for allegedly falsifying documents in an attempt to secure the release of a Russian tycoon accused of child sex crimes.

Police and ministry officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Prum Piseth, head of administration at the Ministry of Justice, was arrested following the complaint of Lt. Gen. Hing Bun Heang, chief of Hun Sen’s bodyguards.

Prum Piseth allegedly forged Hun Sen’s signature on documents that ordered the release Alexander Trofimov, the high-profile defendant in the midst of a pedophile case.

The arrest comes just days after the US State Department censured Cambodia’s efforts to curb human trafficking, including for child sex exploitation and impunity of public officials involved in the practice.

Trofimov is one of the highest-profile arrests for pedophilia in recent years. He was granted a permit to develop the entire island of Koh Puos into a luxury resort, prior to his arrest for alleged sexual acts with underage girls.

Prum Piseth also faces a complaint from a woman who claims he cheated her out of $240,000, the officials said.

One justice official who could not reveal details in the case directed questions to Brig. Gen. Muong Khim, who he said led the arrest operation.

Muong Khim denied arresting Prum Piseth.

New anti-trafficking law reducing paedophile sentences: civil society

Thursday, 29 January 2009
Written by Sebastian Strangio and Sam Rith
The Phnom Penh Post

SLASHED Jail terms

• Philippe Dessart Original 18-year sentence for sexual abuse of a 13-year-old boy reduced to three years on appeal after his charges were reclassified under the new law.
• Nikita Belov Charged with abusing three boys aged seven to 13 years, was released in July after having his three-year sentence suspended by Sihanoukville Municipal Court, which ordered him to pay $250 in damages to each victim.
• Alexander Trofimov Had a 13-year sentence slashed to seven on appeal in October.

Last year’s law reclassifying sexual crimes has ushered in climate of leniency, say rights groups

THE lengths of prison sentences given to convicted paedophiles have fallen since the passage of the Kingdom's new anti-human trafficking law, according to civil society groups, who say the new legal classifications of underage sex crimes make it easier for the guilty to avoid lengthy prison terms.

On Monday, Preah Sihanouk provincial court prosecutors filed an appeal seeking a harsher sentence for twice-convicted paedophile Alexander Trofimov, following his sentencing January 20 for further child-sex charges involving 18 underage victims.

Trofimov was handed an 11-year term by the court, which rights groups decried as "unbelievable" and grossly out of proportion to his crimes.

"On behalf of all human rights organisations, we find the verdict difficult to accept," said Pork Sabon, an investigator for the rights group Licadho in Preah Sihanouk province.

According to anti-paedophile groups, the passage of the new Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in February last year, which replaced Cambodia's old debauchery law - applied in almost all child-sex cases - with a series of sex-related offences, has contributed to a growing tendency towards leniency in paedophile cases.

"Under the old law, sexual exploitation was usually prosecuted under charges of debauchery, which carried a sentence from 10 to 15 or 20 years," said Samleang Silea, executive director of anti-paedophile group Action Pour Les Enfants.

"But under the new law ... each case of sexual exploitation can fall under specific articles. If sexual exploitation does not reach intercourse, then it can fall under ‘indecent acts'."

He noted that old charges of debauchery carried a 10-year minimum, while some articles in the new legislation - such as the "indecent acts against a minor" charge - carry penalties of between one and three years.

Growing leniency

The new law previously came under fire from rights groups after Philippe Dessart, a Belgian national arrested in April 2006 on child-sex charges, had an 18-year sentence reduced to three years by the Phnom Penh Court of Appeal on July 26, after having old charges retroactively retried under the new charge of "indecent acts".

Trofimov also had a 13-year paedophilia sentence slashed to seven years by the Court of Appeal in October.

Samleang Silea said the new law, while being more precise and targeted than the old one, had little deterrent effect on would-be sex offenders.

"Technically, this new law is much better than the old law because each article and each crime is clearly defined. But in terms of punishment, it is giving opportunities to sex perpetrators to continue their immoral behaviour," he said.

Bith Kimhong, head of the Ministry of Interior's Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection, said that both Trofimov and Dessart had their charges changed from Article 34 ("purchase of child prostitution") to Article 43 ("indecent acts"), but could not comment on the reasons for the courts' reconsideration of the charges.

"I disagreed with the sentence. It was very light," he said of the Trofimov verdict, but added that problems were not with the letter of the new law, which was "a big improvement" over the previous one, but in its application.

"The punishment of perpetrators remains almost the same. The most serious ones have to be sentenced to around 20 years in prison," he said. "Now the [Trofimov] prosecutor is appealing the verdict."

Pisey Ly, a technical assistant at the Women's Agenda for Change, a local rights group, was unable to comment on recent paedophilia cases, but said the focus on sentences could draw attention away from the underlying causes of human trafficking and sex crimes.

"[Seeking to] sentence people for a very long time does not address the issue. Trafficking is related to many issues: poverty, the economic situation, information," she said. "We have to look at the root causes."