Cablegate: Traffickers Arrested and Charged in Pedophile Case

VZCZCXRO5747
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHPF #1153 1720826
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210826Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6892
INFO RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1486

UNCLAS PHNOM PENH 001153

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, G/TIP AND EAP/RSP
SINGAPORE FOR NCIS
BANGKOK ALSO FOR ICE
HOMELAND SECURITY FOR ICE
GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CB KWMN ASEC
SUBJECT: TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED AND CHARGED IN PEDOPHILE CASE

REF: PHNOM PENH 1144

1. (SBU) Summary. On June 20, accused pedophile Amcit
Michael Pepe was charged with rape and debauchery at Phnom
Penh Municipal Court. Four local accomplices were also
charged. Three women were charged with human trafficking for
allegedly supplying underage female victims to the Amcit.
Two of the women are mothers of Pepe's victims. The third is
Pepe's 28-year old girlfriend, while the fourth was a cook at
Pepe's home charged with conspiracy in trafficking. End
Summary.

2. (SBU) Accused pedophile and Amcit Michael Joseph Pepe
was formally charged at Phnom Penh Municipal Court on June 20
(Reftel). According to Deputy Prosecutor Nget Sarath, Pepe
is accused of having sex with at least five girls aged eight
to thirteen years old. However, the victims have been
providing leads to others, so the final number is likely to
be higher.

3. (SBU) Additionally, police have charged Pepe's former
girlfriend, Chu Che Seing, with human trafficking. Chu Che
Seing told a reporter that she bought one of Pepe's alleged
victims, aged 13, for $300 from her mother, Ly Kim Eng.
Police have also charged Ly Kim Eng with trafficking. Police
arrested another woman, Kroung Lang, for supplying her nine
and ten year old daughters to Pepe. Lastly, police arrested
Pepe's cook for conspiracy in trafficking.

4. (SBU) The ICE attache in Phnom Penh has interviewed the
alleged victims. He has requested permission from the police
to interview Michael Pepe and is awaiting approval.
MUSSOMELI

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