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November
27 2004; Claims of bribery and coercion outlined
The documentary
outlines Graham Cleghorn's claims that the complainants were bribed and
coerced to make the allegations. Cleghorn and his supporters say the CWCC’s
been offering girls $10,000 each to win convictions against foreign men.
"$10,000 is 40 year’s salary. How can - that’s the equivalent of saying
to somebody in New Zealand,
would they sell you out for five million. And it’s pretty hard not to
accept"
Girls have since come forward and revealed that they were held against their
will by the Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre and coerced to testify against
Cleghorn. The CWCC denies offering money to anyone to testify
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it has no reason to doubt the
verdict. Anti-abuse campaigner Denise Ritchie claims that if the verdict was
unfair, the Embassy would be "the first people to be jumping up and
down" The report revealed Ritchie
was at the Embassy the week Cleghorn was convicted and "was briefed by
staff"
2004-1127 - TV3
- Graham Cleghorn- News transcript
March
29 2004 Cambodian crackdown on
foreigners preying on children
A report outlines
foreign nationals arrested in the last year for sexual abuse, including Cleghorn
and also Malcolm Hatfield
2004-0329
- Dominion Post - Cambodia nabs sex predators
March
25 2004: Bronwyn Sloan: "Madness
in their method"
Cambodia, with it's lax law enforcement, corrupt
officials and largely young and poor population, has long been a favourite
destination for foreign paedophiles. .......... Cambodian politicians now put
a priority on eradicating the scourge ......
Local non-governmental organizations are helping the authorities tackle the
problem, but some of these groups may be operating outside legal and ethical
boundaries in a bid to get results and obtain essential foreign funding.
One such group, the Phnom Penh-based Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre (CWCC) has
received publicity at home and abroad over the past four years for its key
role in gathering evidence and witnesses in the prosecutions of several
foreign residents in Siem Reap. But critics have serious misgivings about
some of the CWCC's methods, including the way it gathers evidence from
potential witnesses, holds out the promise of financial compensation to
victims and pays for help. The agency denies that its methods are illegal or
unethical
2004-0325
- Far Eastern Economic Review - Madness in Their Method
February
24: Denise Ritchie of Ecpat welcomes Graham Cleghorn's sentence
Denise Ritchie
says "This case is a reminder to New Zealanders who travel overseas and
commit sex crimes against children, that they can look forward to spending a
lengthy stint in a foreign jail for such acts" She makes no comment on
any possibility that Graham Cleghorn may be innocent
2004-0224 -
Ecpat-NZ - New Zealander jailed for 20 years for sex crimes in Cambodia
February
18 2007; Graham Cleghorn found guilty; Sentenced to 20 years
Graham Cleghorn
found guilty of the rape of five former employees aged between 15 and 19. He was
sentenced to 20 years jail and ordered to pay US$2000 ($2800) compensation to
each girl's family.
Court prosecutor So Vat told the court the girls had been hired by Cleghorn's
wife, Baut Toer, 25, as maids for US$20 per month, but that between 2001 and
2003 he had systematically sexually abused each of them, making his wife
order them into his room to give him massage before sexually assaulting or
raping them.
Evidence produced in court included a jar of Vaseline the prosecution claimed
was found in the house "without medical reason", and a pistol
police said was found on Cleghorn's property after he was arrested last
October. No bullets were found
Cleghorn denied the charges, saying the girls had been offered money by the
Cambodian Women's Crisis Centre to complain about him. He has insisted
throughout his detention that he was set up because he is one of only two
foreign property owners in the tourist town near the world famous Angkor Wat
temple complex, where he worked as a tour guide
The prosecutor would like the court to believe that these girls would stay in
my house and allow themselves to be raped every month for $20 but not to
believe that they would stand in court and lie for $10,000. I think a bribe
of $10,000 is enough to tempt anyone," Cleghorn told the court in an impassioned
speech before the sentencing, referring to his claims that the crisis centre
had promised the girls money for testifying against him.
2004-0217 -
Kymer City - 20 years jail for NZer in Cambodia
2004-0218
- The Australian - NZ man jailed for Cambodia rape
2004-0218
- Dominion Post - Kiwi accused of rape
2004-0218 -
ABC Radio - New Zealander jailed in Cambodia for rape
2004-0219 - NZ
Herald - NZ man gets 20 years for raping maids
January
13 2004; Graham Cleghorn in prison
A report listing
New Zealanders in prison overseas, includes Graham Cleghorn
2004-0113
- NZ Herald - Hundreds from NZ in alien jails
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