A 47-year-old Swiss national has been arrested and charged with multiple sexual offences against an eight-year-old girl in Phnom Penh.
The February 20 arrest followed a months-long cross-border investigation involving authorities from Australia and Switzerland, as well as the Cambodian National Police, explained a March 2 statement from child protection agency APLE Cambodia (Action Pour Les Enfants).
The arrest was carried out on February 20, 2026, by the Ministry of Interior’s Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department (AHTJPD).
The unnamed Swiss citizen was charged by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on February 26, and faces three criminal offences; under the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, including Production of Child Pornography (Article 41), Sexual Intercourse with Minors Under Fifteen Years of Age (Article 42) and Indecent Act Against Minors Under Fifteen Years of Age (Article 43).
The investigation was initiated in the latter half of last year after Australia’s Queensland Police Service shared intelligence with Swiss authorities, who subsequently transmitted the information to the AHTJPD regarding the suspect’s activities.
The AHTJPD involved child protection organisations the Hard Places Community and APLE Cambodia, in identifying possible victims. During the course of the investigation, police also recovered child sexual abuse materials.
“The survivor disclosed to police that she had been subjected to repeated acts of sexual abuse during 2025. She is currently receiving appropriate care and psychosocial support from APLE and its partners,” said the statement.
“Cross-border cooperation in responding to cases of child sexual exploitation is not just beneficial; it is essential,” said Samleang Seila, APLE executive director.
The Aple statement noted that the successful outcome of the case reflects the importance of timely, coordinated action across borders. The identification and rescue of the survivor, and the charging of the alleged offender, were made possible through efficient information-sharing and cooperation between all parties involved, it continued.
“When information about suspected child sexual crimes is shared efficiently across borders, it can enable early intervention, disrupt offending and, most importantly, protect children before further harm occurs. We urge anyone with information about suspected child abuse to report it immediately,” added Seila.
