The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday sentenced the owner of a massage parlor to five years in prison for prostituting a 16-year-old girl and four women at his establishment earlier this year.
Ngin Savoeun, 35, the owner of 368 Massage & Cupping in Meanchey district, was arrested on April 6 when police raided the premises and found evidence that the teenager and women had been offering sex to visitors for a fee.
He was charged with procuring prostitution of a minor two days later and jailed.
During his trial on August 24, a court clerk read out a statement from the 16-year-old in which she said she had sex with patrons more than 25 times in the three months leading up to the raid.
The girl said she was paid $30 each time, and gave $2.50 of that sum to her boss.
Presiding Judge Kim Rathnarin announced Tuesday that Mr. Savoeun had been found guilty.
“The court decides to sentence Ngin Savoeun, 35, to five years in prison following the charge of procuring with aggravating circumstances,” he said. Mr. Savoeun’s lawyer, Top Chhunleng, declined to comment on the decision and said “whether to appeal or not is up to my client.”
