Filipino schoolteacher John Balbin was charged on Tuesday with committing an indecent act against a 7-year-old in his care in Siem Reap. Photo supplied
A Filipino schoolteacher in Siem Reap was charged today with allegedly sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl in his care, according to the Child Protection Unit.
Originally from San Fernando in the Philippines, John Steven Balbin, 27, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of digital penetration and allegedly made a confession, according to the CPU’s James McCabe.
Chea Heng, chief of anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection in Siem Reap, confirmed the arrest.
Balbin was charged with committing an indecent act against a minor under the age of 15, which carries a prison term of one to three years and a fine of two million riel (about $500) to six million riel ($1,500).
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Police declined to name the school in Siem Reap commune, but said it was an educational facility for young children between the ages of 5 and 15 and taught in both Khmer and English.
McCabe urged schools to be vigilant in order to protect children from abuse.
“It is necessary for all educational institutions to ensure when they employ foreigners that they demand a police clearance for working with children,” he said.
Additional reporting by Mech Dara
