Cambodia sentences Aussie teacher to 5 years in jail for child sex

Cambodia's Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday convicted Australian teacher George Moussalie, 52, of sexually abusing six boys and sentenced him to 5 years in jail, according to a verdict announced by Judge Kor Vandy.

George Moussalie, former teacher of English for children at a private school in Phnom Penh, was arrested on August 31, 2014 when police raided his rented apartment in the city and found him with two boys.

"George Moussalie was found guilty of having sex with children aged below 15 years old and indecent acts," the verdict said, adding that the convict will be deported after serving his prison term.

Cambodia launched an anti-pedophilia operation in 2003 in a bid to end its reputation as a haven for child sex offenders. Since then, dozens of foreigners have been imprisoned for child sex crimes. Endi