An appeal has been lodged for a re-trial of French national Pierre Guynot, 44, who was recently cleared of child sex abuse charges by Sihanoukville Municipal Court, the lawyer for several alleged victims said on Monday.
Lawyer Chum Sophea said he sent the appeal to Sihanoukville court last Monday on behalf of his young clients.
“The victims are not happy with the decision of the court,” he said. “The Frenchman…destroyed the children’s reputation.”
Claiming the testimonies of five alleged victims and photographs of naked boys were insufficient evidence, Sihanoukville court cleared Guynot on July 26 of a string of sex abuse allegations but sentenced him to six months in jail for possessing a starter pistol used in track and field sport.
Guynot’s jail term was canceled by his time already spent under house arrest, the court ruled. He was originally arrested in May 2001.
New evidence will be brought before the Appeals Court of Phnom Penh, Chum Sophea said.
Children’s rights workers were stunned by Guynot’s release.
Sebastien Marot, director of child rights NGO Mith Samlanh/ Friends—who became aware of complaints against Guynot in 1999 when a young man claimed the Frenchman fastened a padlock to his genitalia —said he welcomed the appeal.
“I think the kids are very courageous to do that,” Marot said. “It’s the kids’ decision [to appeal].”
Sihanoukville Municipal Court Director Huon Many said on Monday he had received the appeal and would pass it on to the Appeals Court. The Appeals Court hearing must take place within two months of receiving the appeal documents, Huon Many said.
