An elderly French man went on trial at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday for charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of three young Cambodian boys committed throughout 2011 and 2012.

French national Jacques Philippe Albertini, 74, who has been retired and living in Cambodia for several years, allegedly lured the three boys, all garbage collectors, into his rental home and forced them to perform oral sex on him, according to Judge Heng Sok Na.

“[Albertini] called to the victims who were garbage collectors to come to his rental house in Daun Penh district to empty his trash cans with the promise of payment. Once in his home, he captured the victims, forced them to perform oral sex on him and vice versa,” he said.

The judge noted that this is not the first time Albertini has been arrested for child prostitution. He was charged with sexually abusing several boys in France in the late 1970s, in Thailand in the early 1980s, Preah Sihanouk in 2004 and Phnom Penh in 2008.

One victim, 13, who testified, said Albertini paid him $10 for intercourse twice last year.

The three victims’ parents have asked for $17,000 in total as compensation.

Albertini denied all accusations yesterday, saying that between his diabetes and erectile dysfunction, he could not possibly have committed the crimes.

“I have been sexually inept for 20 years, and I am also a diabetic. I could not commit these sexual activities as accused. I would like to ask the court to drop the charges and release me,” he said.

Vice-prosecutor Top Chhunlong concluded the trial saying that there was enough evidence to prove Albertini committed the offences as accused and asked the court to maintain the charges against him.

The verdict will be announced on August 27.