Tourists face imprisonment in Cambodia for “pornographic” dancing

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA - 29TH MARCH 2017: Bars, restaurants and lights along Pub Street in Siem Reap Cambodia at night. Lots of people can be seen.
By Hannah Edensor


A group of young tourists could be imprisoned for up to a year in Cambodia after they were seen dancing “pornographically”.

The tourists could be charged with creating pornographic material after a group of the backpackers were photographed dancing suggestively with each other.

The group includes at least five UK nationals, as well as two Canadians, a Norwegian and a New Zealander.

The incident took place in Siem Reap at a rented villa.

According to CNN, having seen the photos, Cambodian authorities then distributed the images which show the group “simulating” sexual positions.

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It is unclear whether the imaged were taken during the party where the group was arrested.

Speaking to local news sites, one of the tourists said: “Honestly, it was really confusing. Everyone was confused.

“They raided, rounded us up — there were about 80 to 100 people at this party. Some of them were tourists. There were about 30 of them (police officers),” said the suspect.

Cambodian Interior Ministry’s Khieu Sopheak said the strange arrest was not part of a nationwide crackdown on tourists.

“This operation was taken under Siem Reap provincial authority. We welcome tourists but sometimes people commit a mistake against the culture and tradition of Cambodia and the law gets involved,” said Sopheak

“Well behaved tourists should not worry.”

Speaking to CNN, the group’s lawyer, Sung Sothea, said the suspects would be held for an initial 15-day period, although the police could extend this to four months.

 

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