Russian paedophile Alexander Trofimov has been freed from jail with a royal pardon in Cambodia (AFP/File)PHNOM PENH (AFP)— A Russian businessman, who became the focus of Cambodia's largest-ever paedophilia case after buying sex from 17 girls, has been freed from jail with a royal pardon, an official said Wednesday.
Alexander Trofimov was arrested in 2007 after six girls aged between six and 13 accused him of sexual abuse, and more young girls later filed complaints against the property developer. One of his victims was deaf.
He was convicted in three separate cases and handed 17 years in jail, but the Court of Appeal last year reduced his sentence to eight years in light of his confessions, apparent remorse and lack of understanding of local laws.
"He was released yesterday (Tuesday) evening after receiving a royal pardon," Pich Veasna, prison director in Cambodia's popular seaside town Sihanoukville, told AFP by telephone.
Trofimov was one of more than 300 inmates held in prisons across Cambodia who were either released or had their sentences reduced after receiving a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni, the prison director added.
Trofimov admitted to sexually abusing 16 of the girls and apologised to his victims and the Cambodian people during a hearing last year.
He is also wanted by Russia in connection with child sex allegations in his native country, but Cambodia's Court of Appeal has rejected a request by the Russian government to extradite him.
Trofimov is chairman of Koh Pos Investment Company, which in 2006 received permission to build a 300-million-dollar resort on Koh Pos, known also as Snake Island, off Sihanoukville in southern Cambodia.
Dozens of foreigners have been jailed for child sex crimes or deported to face trial in their home countries since Cambodia launched an anti-paedophilia push in 2003 in a bid to shake off its reputation as a haven for sex predators.
7 comments:
Are you kidding?
Norodom Sihamoni is a King of Cambodia representing a monarchical institution with years of history in our modern-time Cambodia, the institution whose existence is called into question many times as the King appears to be an automatic apparatus without its own funtioning brain and will to think for Himself and interests of His people and the country whom He continues to profess to love and serve.
Granting a Royal Pardon to such a criminal that took advantage of the very small, poor, weak and vulnerable girls of Cambodia indicates clearly how far the King is willing to go to maintain His palace in a land whose justice can be bought with money and power.
There are many political prisoners in Cambodian jails whose crimes are nothing more than their speech and actions to defend democracy, social justice, independent courts and desire to protect Cambodia's territorial integrity and independence and yet they remain in jails unjustly and suffer because they dare to do a job that a King would not even dare to think about for ONE minute.
This kind of a Royal Pardon is a nasty and disgraceful slap in the face of the greatest King Jayavarman VII who built the great Kindom of Cambodia between 1181 and 1218. King Jayavarman would move furiously and unsettledly in his grave with such an ignominious decision.
Like it or not, His Majesty, the King of Cambodia has become a willing lending hand to the government of PM Hun Sen to fulfill its desire of accomplishing its hidden agenda with this Russian businessman and at the same time obviously weakening His own monarchical institution itself. One arrow from PM Hun Sen'bow does kill 2 birds at the same time.
His Majesty does indeed help, by His lack of courage and wisdom, to weaken and eventually kill His own reign, role and relevance in modern-day Cambodia by refusing to be on the side of the weak, young and poor Cambodian girls. It certainly sends a strongly wrong message to everyone.
The existence of the Royal Institution in a poor country of Cambodia where so much money has been used to maintain it should be called into question when it cannot even defend the obviously and easily defensible case by refusing to let this Russian criminal walk free.
What else can one say, but "Shame, shame and shame!"
You can certainly bet that, if allowed to vote freely, to abolish such a useless institution, my vote will and always shall be a "YES"!
Why would one want to bother to keep it, the Royal Institution has steadfastly died from within itself anyway.
Pissed off
Lacking of the knowledge of local laws? Can you tell me which country on earth allows you to have sex with chikren at 7 years old?
He got pardon because only 17 children from the poor families were the victims. none of the victims were from the royal family or hun sen family.
New political party other than the useless cpp, to take over the government should get rid of all khmer royalty
The whole situation is so covered up that it is hard to know if there was even a Royal Pardon. The Russian was not among those listed for Pardons. The government won't say who made the decision and they cover up the process. But we know who did make many $$ millions by freer the abuser.
A man who risks sexual abuse of young Cambodian children so he can add to his stolen fortune moves lower than a snake.
I think it's one big cover up any one who thinks that is ok to have sex with girls as young as six needs to be locked up for life
I went to prey psar prison to offer him a release sanctioned by certain high ups for us1 million on condition he left Cambodia. So stupid to refuse. That was 2007, hope he enjoyed prison
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