Three hotel owners are being detained in Prey Sar prison and are charged with pimping, debauchery, and human trafficking, a Ministry of Interior spokesman confirmed Monday.
Hotel owner Te Pao Ly, 36, general manager Som Leang, 58, and hotel manager Em Marady, 36, were believed to have been involved in various sex trafficking activities followed by a police raid at the Leang Huo Hotel last Sunday.
In February 2006, Tae Pao Ly was sentenced to 5 years for human trafficking and illegal possession of a weapon. As for Som Leang, he was ruled to spend 4 years in prison for his involvement with human traffickers. However, the two men were later released due to a lack of evidence, said Khieu Sopheak.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak says the current arrest will be linked to their previous human trafficking charges, and he hoped to provide enough evidence for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to find them guilty.
Two years ago, anti-trafficking police along with AFESIP had raided Chhay Huo II hotel, rescuing more than 83 girls from sex slavery.
In 2005, the United States Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report ranked Cambodia on Tier 3, for its lack of progress in combating sex crimes in the country. Subsequently in 2006, Cambodia's effort paid off and the country was then placed on Tier 2.