French man arrested for child sex offense in Cambodia's Kandal province

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Phnom Penh: On January 18, 2012 at 0805 hrs Kandai provincial anti human trafficking and juvenile protection police led by Police Major ROS Savin (012 957 951) arrested a S7-year-old French national Philippe Claude Jean Lauwers at his resident in Preksvay village, Chheuteal commune, Keansvay district, Kandal province for suspicion of sexual abuse of four underage boys aged between gl17 yrs.

Mr Lauwers had resided in Cambodia since 2009 and contacted at least 6 boys from the village. He often brought the boys to his home, gave them food, bought them clothes and gave them money after he abused them. None of the boys' families was aware of abuse and believed Mr. Lauwers was generous to the boys.

APLE started monitoring Mr. Lauwers's activities in November 2011 when he was taking the boys on holidays to provinces and was able to gather reasonable grounds to report suspected sexual offense committed to the authority for policing activities. According to the boys, the ongoing sexual abuse first happened two years ago.

Police searched Mr. Launruers's premise and seized one Laptop, 88 discs, 2 USB Flash drives, and one digital camera, 4 rolls of film and 1DV Cassette, and candies. The outcome of the digital search was pending. Mr. Lauwers is now being questioned by Prosecutor for official charges and temporarily held in police custody.