A 29-year-old French citizen is being detained in Siem Reap, accused of trashing a drink shop when the owner resisted his efforts to buy and take home a 13-year-old girl, police said Sunday.
The Frenchman allegedly offered $120 for the girl last week, but the shop owner thwarted the attempt, explaining the teen-ager was a schoolgirl and not a prostitute, said Tann Chay, deputy judicial police chief. The Frenchman then became angry and allegedly broke glasses in the drink shop and continued to pursue the girl, police said.
Tann Chay said the shop owner called the police, who took the man into custody and sent him to provincial court for a hearing.
A warrant has been issued for the detention of the man, who was working as a teacher in Phnom Penh, while the case is investigated, Tann Chay said.
Court officials could not be reached for comment Sunday.
