Cambodia pedophile term slammed as lenient

Philippe Lauwers was found guilty of “committing an indecent act against an underaged boy in late 2011,” Judge Phong Vann at southern Kandal provincial court told AFP, adding that the boy was now aged 16.

The Frenchman will walk free in two months having already served a year in jail, unless his victim appeals the ruling, the judge added.

Lauwers has been held in custody since his arrest in January 2012 on suspicion of sexually abusing three boys, although two of them later dropped their complaints.

He was ordered to pay the boy US$1,000 in compensation and will be deported after his release.

Samleang Seila, country director for child rights group Action Pour Les Enfants, said the sentence was “too lenient.”

“We cannot accept it. The lawyer will consult with the boy whether to appeal the verdict,” he said, adding Lauwers should instead have been charged with buying sex, which carries a minimum seven year tariff.

Cambodia launched an anti-pedophilia drive in 2003 in an effort to end its reputation as a haven for child sex offenders.

Dozens of foreigners have since been jailed for child sex crimes or deported to face trial in their home countries.

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January 16, 2013    tpf@

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This is deplorable! It seems Cambodia is in a deadly cycle of child abuse. First by UNTAC Soldiers, Khmer Rouge, Cambodian VIP from Police to Politicians but mostly (99%) through their own families, neighbors etc. The fact that 99% of the problem never makes it into the intl. press is because foreign funded NGO like aplecambodia.org have absolutely no interest for the intl. public to know. Cambodian child abuse is not worth Media Attention and therefore does not bring any revenue (donations) to the NGO. Not everyone convicted and arrested is a pedophile.

January 18, 2013    pons@

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+ 1
Some innocents are in jail for not paying NGO or police extortion.

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