A court official said Thursday he is investigating allegations that a Swiss national arrested in Siem Reap for debauchery last week may have had sexual relations with other underage boys in town.
Investigating Judge Tan Senarong said the 14- and 18-year-old boys Rudolf Knuchel was found with by police have provided the names of at least two other underage boys they say the expatriate had sexual relations with.
“We will add more boys, more witnesses and more evidence [to the case],” said Tan Senarong.
He said the two boys found at the Swiss Center d’Angkor late last week also have alleged that they have known Knuchel for a number of years and frequently had sex with him. Under Article 8 of the law on human trafficking and prostitution, anyone convicted of “acts of debauchery” with a child under 15 years of age faces 10 to 20 years in prison.
Knuchel denies the charge and his lawyer Benson Samay has claimed his client was framed by German journalists.
Videotaped interviews with four boys who claim they were abused by Knuchel are also in the hands of the courts, according to Tan Senarong.
The interviews were taken by three German journalists investigating allegations against the Swiss restaurant/business center owner, Chanthol Oung, executive director of the Cambodian Women’s Crisis Center, said Thursday.
“I am very happy if he is not guilty. But if he committed something [against the boys] he should be punished,” said Chanthol Oung.
Benson Samay—who is also representing the feared Khmer Rouge leader Ta Mok—will appear with Knuchel in Siem Reap court today to answer questions and make a statement.
