By Khy Sovuthy

The Cambodia Daily, June 23, 2010

Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court on Monday acquitted Jacques Philippe Albertini, 68, of charges that he had sex with a 12-year-old boy, lawyers for the prosecution said yesterday.

According to Samleang Seila, country director of anti-pedophile NGO Action Pour Les Enfants, Albertini was charged with the crime in April of 2008 but immediately released on bail despite the fact that he had previously been charged with sexually molesting a boy in Thailand.

“I don’t like the decision of the judge and I will appeal to the general prosecutor of the appeal court,” Mr. Seila said.

Ms. Peng Maneth, the victim’s APLE-appointed lawyer, said that the court failed to provide any evidence that the crime had not taken place. “The court did not have enough evidence to acquit the suspect,” said Ms. Maneth adding that the judge refused to hear the victim’s testimony.

Chheang Soaphon, Albertini’s lawyer, said yesterday that the verdict was just.