Cambodia charges 10 foreigners for producing porn

PHNOM PENH: A Cambodian judge is investigating whether to pursue pornography charges against 10 foreigners arrested after organising a party which featured indecent dancing, a prosecutor said on Tuesday.

The 10 were arrested on Jan 25 along with 77 other foreigners in a raid on the “Pub Crawl or Let’s Get Wet” event in Siem Reap province, home to the ancient Angkor Wat ruins.

Siem Reap Provincial Court Prosecutor Keut Vannareth told Reuters the 10 had been charged provisionally on Monday with producing pornography for their role in organising the party and the case had been sent to the investigating judge on Tuesday.

The other 77 foreigners arrested were freed after being educated about their unacceptable behaviour.

Those charged are five Britons, one Dutch citizen, two Canadians, a New Zealander and a Norwegian, according to Sourng Sophea, an attorney for the group. In his three-page submission to the court, the lawyer said the partygoers had not been naked.

“When police arrived, they were wearing underwear and bras as they drank,” Sourng Sophea told Reuters, adding that they could face between one month and one year in prison if convicted.

“The charge of producing pornography is a little too harsh,” he said. “Now, they are in prison and this is too much.”

He said the accused had not published any pictures of the event and had committed no crime.

Prosecutor Keut Vannareth declined further comment.

Cambodia has been become a favourite with backpackers and budget travellers over the past decade but has more recently begun to establish itself as more of a luxury destination.

Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s top tourist attraction. The ancient temple complex holds a special place in the country’s history as the former capital of the Khmer Empire and visitors are told to behave with respect to the site.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon said he supported the arrests of the tourists.

“The law bans this kind of thing and maybe they were warned in advance,” he said. “Siem Reap is a heritage site.”