A Japanese man was sentenced to one year in jail by a Cambodian
court this week after he was found guilty of sexually abusing a
13-year-old girl in the country. The crime took place in the city of
Siem Reap and involved 41 year old Shuji Yamagishi, who described
himself in court as a cultural researcher. In addition to his prison
term, Yamagishi was ordered to pay the victim 5 million riel (approx.
¥103,000/$1,250) in damages.
The Japanese national was visiting the tourist town in the spring of
this year, and was subsequently arrested on May 16th. He was originally
accused of raping the girl, who lived in the same building as the
quarters he rented, but the judge at the Siem Reap provincial court
reduced the charge. Public prosecutor Uy Samphea explained that there
wasn’t enough evidence to prove sexual intercourse took place, so the
charges were downgraded to assault.
The victim’s lawyer was Hong Sambath, who works for Action Pour Les
Enfants, a local children’s rights group. He said that Yamagishi’s
sentence was far too lenient, and that it was disappointing that he
wasn’t ordered to be deported after serving his prison sentence.
Cambodia has long been seen as a haven for sexual predators, but the
country is now change that reputation. The country launching a new
campaign targeting pedophilia in 2003, resulting in a number of
foreigners being imprisoned or deported for trial in their home
countries for sex crimes against children.
[via The Standard]
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