Two employees of the Waikiki Beach Club in Sihanoukville were charged Thursday with raping a 22-year-old Australian tourist in the room in which they lived at the popular tourist resort, according to police.
Sarith Sethy, 22, and Kuoy Pov, 17, were charged by the provincial court after the woman lodged a complaint alleging that they raped her after finding her drunk and asleep after a party held at the club on Monday night.
Sarath Vichea, chief of Preah Sihanouk province’s technical and scientific police bureau, who is investigating the allegations, said that the two men, who were waiters at the club, led the woman back to their room at the club.
“At about 11 p.m., while the victim was feeling drunk, the suspects brought her [to their room] and raped her one by one,” he said. “They were able to rape her in the club because they were waiters and live at the club.”
Provincial serious crimes bureau chief Nhet Phoan said the two men were arrested by police Wednesday and had confessed to raping her, adding that the woman had passed out on O’Chheuteal Beach in front of the club.
“The older man confessed to raping her two times, and the younger man to raping her only one time,” Mr. Phoan said. He explained that both told police in their confessions that they were unable to control themselves.
“They raped her because they couldn’t control their feelings when they saw her sleeping alone on the beach.”
“When they saw the victim drunk and sleeping on the beach alone, Mr. Sethy brought her to their room and raped her with his friend,” Mr. Phoan explained.
“The court has charged them with rape.”
An Australian Embassy spokesperson said embassy officials were ready to provide assistance to the tourist.
“We are aware of reports of the alleged rape of an Australian woman in Sihanoukville earlier this week and stand ready to provide consular assistance,” the spokesperson said.
“We continue to advise Australian travelers to exercise normal safety precautions in Cambodia.”
