Provincial court detains three suspects in Kampot town tourist gang-rape

THE Kampot Provincial Court detained three men accused of having gang-raped a 43year-old French tourist in the early hours of October 11.

One of the accused is a service driver named Seng Srun, 37. He lives in Boengveng village, Veal Rinh commune, Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Nop district. Police officials arrested Srun on Tuesday.

Srun's accomplices were named as Pum Livy, 19, and Nget Norphea, 23. Livy lives in Sangkong village, Nitean commune, in Kampong Speu province’s Baset district, whereas Norphea lives in Trapainglerk village, Kraing Sbov commune, in Kampot’s Chhouk district.

Livy and Norphea are workers at Bokor Mountain and were arrested by the police on Wednesday.

Kampot Provincial Court spokesman Man Boreth told The Post on Sunday that the three suspects were charged with rape according to Article 239 of the Criminal Code.

The cour t ordered prov incia l police of ficia ls to tempora r i ly deta in t he t hree suspects in pr ison pending t r ia l.

According to Ar t icle 239, t hey ca n be sentenced to bet ween five a nd 10 yea rs in pr ison i f found g ui lt y.

A Kampot provincial police report said the three accused were detained within four days after receiving the complaint from the victim, which was sent to the Kampot city police chief on October 11.

The victim had said she left a drinking party venue at Prek coastal area at 3am on October 11. After walking 200m from the party venue, a Land Cruiser slowly pulled up beside her. CCTV footage showed the suspects stopping next to the pavement.

One of the suspects came out from the car and waved to the victim asking her to follow them, but she declined to enter the car. After a while, another suspect forcibly pushed her into the car.

Kampot provincial police chief Mao Chanmathurith told The Post that police conducted detailed investigations and searched for the three suspects, based on the complaint and CCTV footage.

“After arresting them, police officials invited the victim to identify the suspects, and she did so one by one. Also, the three admitted to raping the victim,” said Chanmathurith.

He said the three accused are being detained at Kampot provincial prison.