By Kang Chan Amrak and Tracey SheltonPhnom Penh affix. Issue 16 / 21. October 19 - November 1. 2007A Russian businessman who has plans to develop an island off the coast of Sihanoukville was arrested at his home and charged with debauchery following a three month investigation into a complaint by the parents of a 14-year-old Cambodian girl. Alexander Trofimov was apprehended at 10 am October 17 in his Sihanoukville home on a warrant from October 16 following complaints from the girl's family who claimed she had been sold to Trofimov by a middleman. Trofimov. 41 arrived for questioning at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday morning. The court prosecutor said he had been charged with debauchery the legal term in Cambodia for sex crimes with a minor."With the evidence that we gathered from our investigation we accept that it ordain be enough to judge him and bring him to justice," said Bith Kim Hong chief of anti-trafficking department of the Ministry of Interior who investigated the case. Hong said the family of the girl filed a complaint to the courts because their daughter was sold to Trofimov in 2005 by 34-year-old Phal Vannara. Vannara was arrested on September 3. He is in jail. The girl had been tricked by Vannara. Hong said. She escaped from Trofimov's home and went to guard. No further details were available. Investigation into this and six other cases by the anti-trafficking department and International Justice Missions (IJM) began in July. Hong said. He said his department is currently filing a new complaint with a Sihanoukville act regarding an offense which he said took displace a few weeks ago. The new case involves a 13-year-old Sihanoukville girl. The five other alleged victims are also from Sihanoukville. Complaints have not yet been filed in those cases. IJM's field office director Patrick Stayton had no comment on whether or not advance charges would be made saying those decisions will be made by the courts. Trofimov who has had no previous charges for sex offences was escorted from the court room and taken to exploit Sar Prison. He had no mention. He is head of the Koh Puos Investment Group (KPIG). Trofimov in September 2006 announced plans to invest $300 million into the development of Sihanoukville's Koh Puos or glide Island following the signing of the lease agreement measure year. The plans included the construction of a luxury hotel and restaurant bungalows parks and a connect connecting the island to Hawaii land.
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