Alexander Trofimov was arrested in 2007 after six girls aged between six and 13 accused him of sexual abuse. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
PHNOM PENH - A CAMBODIAN appeals court on Thursday ordered a Russian businessman to serve a reduced prison sentence of eight years for buying sex from 17 under-age girls, including a deaf victim.
Alexander Trofimov was arrested in 2007 after six girls aged between six and 13 accused him of sexual abuse.
Since then, many more young girls have filed complaints against the property developer, making him the focus of Cambodia's largest-ever paedophilia case.
The court found that Trofimov paid up to US$2,000 (S$2,709) a time to have sex with virgins. He had been convicted in three separate cases and handed a total of 17 years in prison.
But in light of Trofimov's confessions, remorse, and lack of understanding of Cambodian customs and laws, he deserved a reduction of the sentence, said judge Seng Sivutha of the Court of Appeal.
Trofimov, who is s also wanted by Russia in connection with child sex allegations in his native country, admitted to sexually abusing 16 girls and apologised to his victims and the Cambodian people during a hearing last week. -- AFP
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