Cambodia weighs porn charges against 10 jailed foreigners

In this Jan 25, 2018 photo issued by Cambodian National Police, a group of unidentified foreigners are shown
In this Jan 25, 2018 photo issued by Cambodian National Police, a group of unidentified foreigners are shown "dancing pornographically" at a party in a rented villa in Siem Reap town, near the country's famed Angkor Wat temple complex.(AP photo)

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 - which photos suggest involved a game of 'naughty Twister'.

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 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 at 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."

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Vocabulary

  • backpacker (noun): A person who travels on holiday/vacation carrying equipment and clothes in a backpack (a large bag, often supported on a light metal frame, carried on the back and used especially by people who go climbing or walking) - ผู้ใส่กระเป๋าสะพายหลัง
  • bra: a piece of women's underwear worn to cover and support the breasts - เสื้อชั้นในสตรี
  • harsh: strict, unkind and often unfair - อย่างรุนแรง
  • heritage: features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages or buildings, which still exist from the past and which have a historical importance - มรดก
  • naked: not wearing any clothes - เปลือยกาย
  • naughty: involving or suggesting sex - ไม่เหมาะสม, เก่งในทางซุกซนหรือในทางไม่สู้ดี
  • pornography: books, magazines, DVDs, etc. that describe or show naked people and sexual acts in order to make people feel sexually excited, especially in a way that many other people find offensive - หนังสือ ภาพ เรื่องเขียน หนังและศิลปะที่ลามก
  • pub crawl (n): a visit to several pubs, going straight from one to the next, drinking at each of them -
  • ruins: the remains of a building that has been badly damaged or destroyed - ซากปรักหักพัง
  • unacceptable: that you cannot accept, allow or approve of - ซึ่งไม่สามารถยอมรับได้
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