Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged a 26-year-old construction worker with attempted rape for allegedly attacking his boss’ 7-year-old daughter, police and court officials said.
Police arrested Meas Sereyvuth on Sunday at his employer’s house, where he was found alone with his boss’ daughter in Russei Keo district’s Tuol Sangke commune, said commune police chief Sun Kannareith.
The suspect went to the house looking for work, but instead found the girl alone, he said. The allegedly man removed his pants and the girl’s pants, but the girl’s 9-year-old brother arrived before the attack could progress.
“The girl’s brother could not open the door, so he looked through the window and saw the man on the girl,” he said, adding that the boy, in order to prevent the man’s escape, tied the door shut with a wire and shouted for help.
“The police got there quickly since that is the spot is near the police station,” he said.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court Deputy Prosecutor Sok Roeun said the suspect was charged with attempted rape and would be sent to Prey Sar prison for provisional detention.
In a separate case, Pursat Provincial Court yesterday charged a 49-year-old man with indecent acts for allegedly touching the genitals of a 6-year-old girl, according to provincial court prosecutor Top Chansereyvuth.
“The suspect needs to be charged because the victim is underage,” he said.
Pol Chamroeun, the deputy chief of the provincial anti-human trafficking bureau, said that Mr Pheng allegedly molested the victim in Krakor district’s Tnort Chum commune.
The suspect then carried the girl to her home, where she told her mother what had happened, he said. He was arrested Monday, he said.
He said the victim’s family has discussed accepting compensation from Mr Pheng’s family, but that authorities will pursue the case regardless if any deal is made.
“The victim’s mother did not want the man to be sent to court because the victim was not raped,” he said.
Contacted yesterday evening, Mr Chansereyvuth said that the court released Mr Pheng after he was charged.
