Seven men who on Monday allegedly gang raped a 17-year-old girl behind a Kompong Cham province hospital where she was visiting her sick mother were on Thursday charged by the provincial court, police and court officials said.
Ouk Pov, deputy police chief of Kroch Chhmar district, said the victim told police that a man had followed her into a bathroom at the district referral hospital at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, seized her and dragged her into a banana field behind the building, where the other six men were waiting.
“Seven people committed the rape,” Mr. Pov said.
“The victim [said] one man came to grab her, covered her mouth and threatened to kill her,” he said.
But provincial prosecutor Huot Vuthy said police only managed to apprehend one of the suspects, following a complaint filed by the victim’s mother, Khin Yung, 48.
“Thoeun Thy, 21, was charged with rape, under aggravating circumstances, of a 17-year-old,” Mr. Vuthy said, adding that the other six men where charged in absentia.
Mr. Thy was arrested at his home on Tuesday, according to Mr. Pov, who added that the suspect admitted to having sex with the girl, but claimed it was consensual.
“The suspect Thoeung Thy confessed that one of his friends, Veng Sar, had an appointment to meet her, and after the rape, they gave the victim 50,000 riel [about $12.50],” Mr. Pov said.
Ms. Yung, the girl’s mother, on Thursday said she hoped the other six men would soon be arrested.
“I am very upset that they mistreated my daughter. Right now, she is in a state of shock,” Mr. Yung said.
“I ask the police and court officials to seriously punish the perpetrators who raped my daughter.”
