By Phorn Bopha

The Cambodia Daily, January 01, 2010

 

A 62-year-old Swedish man charged with sexual intercourse with minor under fifteen years and indecent acts against a minor pleaded innocent yesterday during his hearing in Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

 

Police arrested Johan Brahim Escori in the capital May 6 for allegedly sexually abusing the 9-year-old boy. During yesterday’s hearing, the boy testified that the defendant raped him.

 

Mr. Escori denied the allegation and said he had adopted the boy in 2007. The boy’s lawyer, Peng Maneth, said the adoption was unofficial and the only document supporting the claim was a paper with a commune chief’s thumbprint.

 

Mr. Escori conceded to touching the boy’s genitals, but in a strictly nonsexual manner.

 

“I touched him since we are father and son, just in terms of a father,” he told the court.

 

Mr. Escori added he had been living with the boy in a Preah Sihanouk city guesthouse, bought him insurance and sent him abroad on several occasions.

 

“We stayed in one room with a big bed since I did not have enough money to afford a room with two beds,” he said.

 

The boy’s mother, who filed the complaint against Mr. Escori, told the court that she had since changed her mind about Escori.

 

“I dropped my lawsuit since I have learned that he is a good man. He supports my son with his study and he fed him,” she said. “I gave my son to him since I was poor, and the guesthouse owner said that he is a good person.”

 

Deputy Prosecutor Hing Bun Chea, said there was still enough evidence to convict the defendant.

“I want the court to consider that we have enough evidence to convict him under the anti-trafficking law,” he said. “Convict him with Sexual Intercourse with Minor under Fifteen Years and committing Indecent Acts against a minor.”

 

A Swedish court in 1981 sentenced Mr. Escori to a one-year term for molesting a 17-year-old girl, but suspended the sentence.

 

In 2008, he was held in Preah Sihanouk Province for allegedly abusing five boys between the ages of 13 and 14. The provincial court released him, citing lack of evidence.

 

Judge Chhay Kong said the verdict would be announced on January 19.