Cambodia asks for accused paedophile to be extradited

The case came to light last week in a report by Manuel Marlasca and Luis Rendueles printed in the magazine "Interviu" which stated that F.P.C. was accused of having sexually abused a 14-year old Cambodian monk. The acts presumably occurred in 2009 during the Menorcan's stay in Phnom Penh, the country's capital, and were denounced by the victim at the beginning of this year.

Manuel Marlasca explained to the "Menorca" last week that the accused man denied the charges and claimed that the main photograph illustrating the article and showing the Menorcan posing next to the youngster was a montage.

F.P.C. was arrested in Alaior on 26th August after the Cambodian Justice Department had issued an international warrant for his detention. Marlasca explained that the young boy had told his superior in the pagoda where he lives of the alleged abuse and that the youngster claimed that the Spanish tourist for whom he had worked as a cook and whose apartment he had cleaned for three months forced him to have sexual relations in return for small sums of money. The adult monk passed the information on Protect (a Barcelona-based association against the sexual exploitation of children) which then contacted the police. After an investigation was opened, a warrant for his arrest was ordered but was not processed by Interpol until August. The case was passed to the Balearic Police Authorities who asked the Local Police in Alaior to confirm F.P.C.'s home address.

Various local sources described F.P.C. as a quiet man who likes to travel.