Tobi Cohen
THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL - Authorities in Cambodia are testing two young girls for HIV after their mother claimed a Canadian man accused of sexually abusing them infected her, a local child protection organization involved in the case said Wednesday.
Daniel Lavigne, 68, was arrested Monday and later charged with having sexual intercourse and committing indecent acts with minors, aged 10 and 12. His hometown in Quebec was not known.
Seila Sanleang, director of Action pour les enfants, said his organization had been monitoring the accused since his first of three visits to the country in August.
Information and evidence obtained by the group, which seeks to fight child exploitation and assist victims, was given to police and ultimately helped lead to Lavigne's arrest.
"We are an organization that protects children from child exploitation but we have an investigation team to monitor and investigate the sexual exploitation of children," he said.
The group became suspicious after the man rented a guest house in the coastal town of Sihanoukville, about 185 kilometres southwest of the capital Phnom Penh, and was seen there with the two girls.
Sanleang said the group monitored Lavigne for two days in August and again in September and while they handed over the information to police, it wasn't until his third visit that they finally acted.
Sanleang said Lavigne told him he'd been staying in China between his visits to Cambodia.
He said Lavigne met the widowed mother while she worked as a street vendor in Phnom Penh.
"According to the mother, they met on the street by chance and then they built a relationship and he just wanted to have the relationship with the mother," he said.
"Then he was also introduced to the two girls by the mother and then the relationship between Daniel and the two girls started."
He said the mother also told authorities she'd been infected with HIV.
"The tests of (the children) is underway," he said. "They are waiting for the tests from the doctors."
Canadian officials said they've been in contact with a Quebecer who has been arrested in Cambodia for allegedly sexually abusing two young girls.
Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette said Canada is aware that a man has been detained and that an investigation is underway.
"Consular officials have been in contact with the arrested Canadian and they are offering their support and assistance," she said.
"Due to the Privacy Act, I can't confirm other details including the identity of the individual."
Soun Sphan, Sihanoukville province deputy police chief for anti-human trafficking, said Lavigne was arrested Monday at a bus station.
He said Lavigne denied the charges and claimed he was headed to the capital with the two girls whom he he said he treated as his adopted daughters.
The girls told police Lavigne had sexually molested them at a guesthouse, Sphan said.
Until a few years ago, poverty and lax enforcement made Cambodia a prime destination for foreigners seeking sex with minors.
Police have since cracked down and several foreigners are serving lengthy prison terms as a result.
Sanleang said there have been three similar cases involving Canadians in the last few years but that none of them were convicted. There have been a total of about 60 sex offender cases involving foreigners, he said.
If convicted, Lavigne can face up to 13 years in prison.
(With files from The Associated Press)
Daniel Lavigne, 68, was arrested Monday and later charged with having sexual intercourse and committing indecent acts with minors, aged 10 and 12. His hometown in Quebec was not known.
Seila Sanleang, director of Action pour les enfants, said his organization had been monitoring the accused since his first of three visits to the country in August.
Information and evidence obtained by the group, which seeks to fight child exploitation and assist victims, was given to police and ultimately helped lead to Lavigne's arrest.
"We are an organization that protects children from child exploitation but we have an investigation team to monitor and investigate the sexual exploitation of children," he said.
The group became suspicious after the man rented a guest house in the coastal town of Sihanoukville, about 185 kilometres southwest of the capital Phnom Penh, and was seen there with the two girls.
Sanleang said the group monitored Lavigne for two days in August and again in September and while they handed over the information to police, it wasn't until his third visit that they finally acted.
Sanleang said Lavigne told him he'd been staying in China between his visits to Cambodia.
He said Lavigne met the widowed mother while she worked as a street vendor in Phnom Penh.
"According to the mother, they met on the street by chance and then they built a relationship and he just wanted to have the relationship with the mother," he said.
"Then he was also introduced to the two girls by the mother and then the relationship between Daniel and the two girls started."
He said the mother also told authorities she'd been infected with HIV.
"The tests of (the children) is underway," he said. "They are waiting for the tests from the doctors."
Canadian officials said they've been in contact with a Quebecer who has been arrested in Cambodia for allegedly sexually abusing two young girls.
Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Monette said Canada is aware that a man has been detained and that an investigation is underway.
"Consular officials have been in contact with the arrested Canadian and they are offering their support and assistance," she said.
"Due to the Privacy Act, I can't confirm other details including the identity of the individual."
Soun Sphan, Sihanoukville province deputy police chief for anti-human trafficking, said Lavigne was arrested Monday at a bus station.
He said Lavigne denied the charges and claimed he was headed to the capital with the two girls whom he he said he treated as his adopted daughters.
The girls told police Lavigne had sexually molested them at a guesthouse, Sphan said.
Until a few years ago, poverty and lax enforcement made Cambodia a prime destination for foreigners seeking sex with minors.
Police have since cracked down and several foreigners are serving lengthy prison terms as a result.
Sanleang said there have been three similar cases involving Canadians in the last few years but that none of them were convicted. There have been a total of about 60 sex offender cases involving foreigners, he said.
If convicted, Lavigne can face up to 13 years in prison.
(With files from The Associated Press)
