Man Arrested Over Rape of US Woman in Siem Reap

A 52-year-old Cambodian man has been arrested over the suspected rape of an American woman in Siem Reap City in the early hours of January 1 after she was locked out of her guesthouse upon returning from New Year’s celebrations, police said Friday.

According to Duong Sokha, provincial penal police chief, the 21-year-old woman tried to climb over a locked gate at about 1 a.m. but was unsuccessful. 

The suspect, Chea Savan, saw her struggling and tried to assist before taking the intoxicated woman to his home opposite the guesthouse.

“The victim was drunk and the suspect held her in his house, where he raped her once,” Mr. Sokha said, adding that the woman filed a complaint with police after waking up in the stranger’s home.

According to Mr. Sokha, Chea Savan admitted during questioning to having sex with the woman, but claimed she had hugged and kissed him beforehand.

Provincial immigration police chief Chao Mao Vireak said the suspect has been sent to provincial court for questioning but has not yet been charged as officials were still trying to establish whether the rape was premeditated.

odom@cambodiadaily.com

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