A teenage male was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday after being found guilty of raping a 9-year-old girl in the capital’s Dangkor district in July.

Svay Tonh, the presiding judge, said Veith Seanghak, 18, had been charged under Articles 239 and 240 of the criminal code and sentenced for “rape with aggravating circumstances.”

The judge said that “based on his confession and the evidence, the court has found him guilty and decided to sentence him to 10 years in prison, as well as paying 5 million riel [about $1,250] to the victim.”

The teen had been living with the girl’s family and working for her father. Seanghak admitted to raping the minor, but said he “had not finished”, and vowed to appeal the decision.