A woman was charged by a Kandal Provincial Court prosecutor on Tuesday with torturing and committing acts of cruelty against a 17-year-old girl who was working for her.
The suspect, 27-year-old Dang Reaksmey, was arrested on Sunday in Takhmao town.
Court spokesman Tin Sochetra said: “She was charged for torture and acts of cruelty under Article 210 of the Criminal Code.
The woman faces between seven and 15 years in prison if found guilty.
Ros Savin, chief of the Kandal provincial police’s Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Bureau, said: “In this case, there are only injuries. This is not a case related to sexual harassment. Doctors already checked the victim’s injuries,” he said.
Takhmao town police chief Yi Vanda said on Tuesday that Reaksmey lives in Takhmao commune, while the victim hails from Kampong Thom province.
The victim told police that earlier this year, her aunt took her to Reaksmey’s house, where she was meant to be a servant.
As soon as she started working for Reaksmey, she suffered abuse. She said Reaksmey hit her in the head with ladles and cleavers, causing bloody injuries. In her case, 13 different injuries were cited.
Vanda said: “She worked at the woman’s house for about a year. The woman always hit her. Even though there was no problem in the house, she would hit the girl when she wasn’t in a good mood.”
While she was suffering, the victim did not know who to ask for help. On October 8 or 9, Vanda said the victim called her aunt and described the situation. Her aunt then contacted the ABC radio station to report the issue.
Authorities heard the broadcast and provincial police chief Chhoeun Sochet ordered Vanda to take action.
Vanda said: “My authorities did not arrest the suspect yet, but she came to confess. I reported this to the prosecutor and I was ordered to detain her on October 11.”
The General Secretariat of the Cambodian National Council for Children (CNCC) secretary-general Nhep Sopheap told The Post that any form of violence against children is against the law. No child should be put in this kind of situation, she said.
“We urge [everyone] to stop the acts of all forms of violence. We request participation from all relevant institutions.”