By Khy Sovuthy

The Cambodia Daily, April 23, 2010

Siem Reap Provincial Court yesterday sentenced Swiss national Rudolf Knuchel, 62, to a two-year prison sentence of which one year was suspended, and ordered him to pay $1,250 in compensation for committing indecent acts with a 14-year-old boy, according to lawyer party to the case.

Peng Maneth, a lawyer with anti-pedophile NGO Action Pour Les Enfants who represented the victim, said by telephone yesterday that the verdict did not give her client justice and would not deter other pedophiles. “The sentencing of the Siem Reap Provincial Court is weak, it is not strong,” she said. But Knuchel’s lawyer Ly Veng Heng said by telephone that the verdict was unjust because there was insufficient evidence to convict. Mr. Veng Heng said he did not know if his client would appeal the decision.

Knuchel was acquitted in Siem Reap on similar charges in 2002 due to lack of evidence. Deputy provincial prosecutor Heng Pheng said yesterday he was too busy with another case to comment.