Cambodia releases accused pedophile

April 20, 2004

An Australian accused of having sex with two 14-year-old Cambodian boys has been released from custody by a Phnom Penh court due to a lack of evidence.

David Ford, 49, was released earlier this month after being arrested on March 7 and charged with debauchery, the Cambodian charge for child rape.

Investigating judge Nop Sophon said yesterday he found no evidence, and the boys brought as witnesses said they did not know him.

Hang Vidol, country director of Action Pour Les Enfants, which had given evidence to police after the two homeless boys had approached the aid agency, said yesterday he was not surprised the case had failed. "The boys are drug users, they live and sleep near the river. It would have been difficult to use them as witnesses before the court," he said.

Mr Ford had been brought to his agency's attention by the boys, who had pointed him out, Mr Hang said.

Mr Ford taught chemistry at a local university, local reports said. The allegations dated back to 2000 and 2001.

Cambodian police had arrested at least 16 suspected foreign pedophiles since early 2003 - up from eight in 2002.

Many of those arrested, however, have avoided prosecution, with perhaps the most famous being Australian Clint Betterridge, who fled Cambodia on a new passport given to him by the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh before a Siem Reap court sentenced him last January to 10 years in jail.

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