A verdict in the trafficking case of a teen-age girl has been postponed until a later date, a municipal court official said Sunday.
A verdict in the case of Thang Kim Min, who is being tried on human trafficking charges, was expected Friday, but a meeting of judges—not related to the trial—kept Municipal Judge Hing Therith from rendering a verdict, Prosecuting Judge Nget Sareth said Sunday.
Thang Kim Min stands accused of trafficking a minor to Macau for sex.
The 17-year-old girl testified in court on Friday, saying she had been tricked into the sex trade by Thang Kim Min, but had escaped the Macau brothel in which she had been forced to work with the help of Macau police. She returned to Phnom Penh last year, where she helped human rights workers and police find and arrest Thang Kim Min. Nget Sareth said no date was scheduled for the verdict.
Human rights officials have said they are closely following this case.
Human trafficking in Cambodia remains a charged issue. A US report earlier this month said Cambodian officials were not making a significant effort to combat human trafficking.