February 3, 2010

 

PHNOM PENH Municipal Court re-tried a 57-year-old American on Tuesday, February 2, 2010. Verdict is set to be handed down next day, after the original scheduled hearing on January 19 was postponed for lack of an interpreter.

 

Harvey Alexander Johnson, from Texas, U.S.A, was arrested at Boeung Kok lakeside zone after anti-pedophile NGO Action Pour Les

Enfants presented authorities with statements from 10 underage girls, accusing him of sexually abusing them.

 

After the four-hour closed-door hearing, Judge Chhay Kong said, the verdict against Mr. Johnson, who has been charged with committing indecent acts against four underage girls, would be announced at 8:00 am, the next morning.

 

After the hearing, APLE’s attorney-at-law Mr. Noun Phanith, representing the victims, told the Phnom Penh Post, that Mr. Johnson had proclaimed his innocence and rejected the charges against him during the hearing, adding, that it is normal for the accused, claiming to be innocent. 

 

Mr. Noun Phanith further stated that court testimony of two victims provided “concrete evidence” of Johnson’s guilt. “I firmly hope, that the court will truly find justice for the four victims based on testimonies from two victims.”

 

If Mr. Johnson is found guilty, he faces from one to three years in prison and fine of between 2 million and 6 million riel (equivalent to approx US$1,444).