Two French nationals charged with purchasing child prostitutes were sentenced by Battambang Provincial Court yesterday to a partially suspended two-year sentence with deportation.

Judge Kim Ravy of Battambang Provincial Court ordered that French nationals Denis Page, 63, and Jean Vidon, 67, spend two years in prison, with one year suspended from the date of the original arrest in October.

The two were also ordered to pay both victims, aged 15 and 17, 4 million riel, or $1,000.

Prosecutor Hong Sambath said he will appeal as the sum isn’t suitable for what the victims endured.   

According to the defence lawyer, Kim Veasna, his clients did not commit the sexual acts they were accused of, but they do admit to bringing the boys to a Battambang hotel to perform massages on them.

Samleang Seila, country director of children’s protection NGO Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE), was pleased with the inclusion of deportation in the verdict.

“APLE has always asked that deportation is made mandatory, so in any case, the convicted must be deported after serving time in prison,” Seila said.

According to APLE, Page had prior convictions for child rape in France.

To contact the reporter on this story: Sen David at [email protected]

Rachel Will at [email protected]