A bodyguard working for a wealthy family accused of abusing and holding captive an 18-year-old girl for eight years and her 12-year-old brother for two years was charged on Friday with using intentional violence, exploiting child labor, illegal human detention and using an illegal weapon, police said.
The four members of the family implicated in the abuse at the Tuol Kok villa, however, remain free.
The family’s patriarch Soeung Hoeung was still in a Phnom Penh hospital while his wife, Taing Sim Rong, and two sons, Soeung Ratha and Soeung Rathana, who is accused of raping the girl, remain free from charges, according to In Bora, director of the Interior Ministry’s penal department.
“When we raided the house, [Mr. Hoeung’s] legs and arms were swollen and he asked to stay at a clinic in Phnom Penh and he is still there,” he said. “The sons and wife are still free but it is the duty of the court to charge them.”
San Sou Dalen, the lawyer representing the victims, said the charges against the bodyguard, Yem Bun Thoeun, should be followed with harsher charges against the family.
“We are disappointed that the court has not charged the house’s owner and that it is managing the case slowly,” Ms. Sou Dalen said.
“The bodyguard just joined in sometimes when the house owner was violent toward them,” she added. “The house owner must face the law because he knew people were using violence in the house but he never stopped it.”
The family’s cook, Ky Tieng, was arrested last week but released on bail due to ill health on Friday.
Hang Vibol, president of the Our Home NGO, which has been offering support to the brother and sister, accused local police of protecting the accused.
“I request for the court not to close the investigation into the use of violence, rape and illegal human detention,” he said.
Police rescued the 18-year-old girl on Tuesday after her brother had escaped the previous day. Both claim to have come under severe mental and physical abuse while being held captive.
