Monk arrested for raping tourist
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2008 11:33
A Buddhist monk in Cambodia has been arrested on suspicion of raping a British tourist.
The 17-year-old Thorn Sophoan was immediately defrocked following his arrest, according to local police, following an incident in the north-western province of Battambang.
"While the monk was guiding the British woman to see caves on the top of Phnom Sam Pov mountain, he raped her," the local police chief Mey Chhengly alleged in a statement to AFP.
He stated the monk had allegedly confessed to the crime.
Local police are compiling documents to prosecute the man, who faces up to 25-years in jail if convicted of rape, Mey Chhengly added.
It is believe the accused had been a monk for just one month.
Chris O'Toole