Robbie Neils Berry faces extradition from Cambodia

The Daily Telegraph

http://www.news.com.au

May 26, 2009

AN Australian man is awaiting extradition in a Cambodian prison after he was arrested on a warrant issued by the Federal Court for child pornography offences he allegedly committed in Queensland.

Police arrested Robbie Neils Berry, 53, in the capital Phnom Penh yesterday after the Australian Government issued an urgent provisional arrest request to the Cambodian Government, an Attorney-General's Department statement said.

"Mr Berry is wanted for prosecution in Australia for child pornography offences," the statement said.

"Australia will now finalise a full extradition request to Cambodia and as this is now a matter for Cambodian authorities, it is not appropriate to comment further."

Sok Phal, Cambodian Deputy National Police Chief, said Mr Berry appeared before Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday but was not charged with any offences in Cambodia.

"This arrest was made on the request of the Australian Government and so far we have not found any evidence that he committed crimes in Cambodia," he said.

"But we have begun an investigation and will charge him if we find evidence of wrongdoing in Cambodia."

Sok Kalyan, Cambodian Deputy Chief Prosecutor, said the charges related to child pornography offences allegedly committed in Queensland.

"We do not know when these offences occurred and we do not know for certain when Mr Berry arrived in Cambodia," he said.

Sok Kalyan said Berry would be detained in a police prison in the capital until the extradition procedures were completed.