Three police officers from the Ministry of Interior's department of human trafficking and children protection were charged with demanding money from karaoke owners in a human-trafficking operation in early September 2004.
A close source to the court said today (Tuesday), that the operation was part of a crackdown at karoake clubs in Kampong Speu province. The source asked not to be named.
The source said that the officers demanded money and are being charged by Phnom Penh the Municipal Court Prosecutor Ouk savuth. Ouk could not be reached for comments. The Interior police officers and the accused officers' lawyer said that the charge is not fair.
Cambodian authorities started to crackdown on activities linked to human trafficking as the US downgraded the country from level 3 to level 2.