A Cambodian court Thursday charged an American Vietnam War veteran with sexually abusing two underage sisters, between 10 and 11 years old.
Roger Dale Green, a 58-year old Vietnam Veteran from Tennessee, was arrested in a Phnom Penh hotel Monday. He has since denied the charges.
Keno Thea, deputy chief of Phnom Penh's anti-trafficking unit, said police had found Green in a hotel room with the two girls after receiving a tip-off from one of the child rights activists.
Phnom Penh court prosecutor Ngeth Sarath said the court has charged Green with debauchery for sexually abusing the girls. Green could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
Green's lawyer, Meng Theng Y tells VOA Khmer that his client is innocent and that the court does not have enough evidence to charge his client. He also said the information they [police] have against his client is one-sided.
According to his lawyer, Roger Dale Green has traveled to Cambodia during the Christmas holidays for the past 7 years, to help disadvantaged Cambodian children.
U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh has declined VOA Khmer’s request to comment on the case.