An Australian English teacher was on Thursday charged with having sex with and indecently assaulting children under the age of 15, Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor Sieng Sok said.
George Moussallie, 52, who is accused of abusing eight victims aged six to 12, was arrested Sunday at his rented home in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district, according to Ieng Chanlon, chief of the child support bureau at the anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection unit.
“He has known the boys at the riverside for a long time, since around 2010. The boys are very poor and are beggars on the riverside,” said Mr. Chanlon, adding that Mr. Moussallie was accompanied by two young boys at the time of arrest.
Police began monitoring the suspected pedophile after gaining a tip-off from Australian Federal Police about six months ago, Mr. Chanlon added.
He said the suspect, who taught at the private American Pacific School in Phnom Penh, admitted to taking photographs of naked children but denied the children’s claims of sexual abuse.
Mr. Moussallie remains in police custody.
