Close X
Saturday, September 21, 2024
ADVT 
National

Cambodia Arrests, Charges Two Canadian Women After 'Pornographic Dance'

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Jan, 2018 12:10 PM
    PHNOM PEHN, Cambodia — Two Canadian women arrested among several foreigners in Cambodia are facing charges of producing pornographic photos during a party near the country's famed Angkor Wat temple.
     
    A news release from the Cambodian National Police lists Eden Kazoleas, 20, and Jessica Drolet, 25, and eight men as being detained in the northwestern town of Siem Reap. CTV News reports that Kazoleas is from Drayton Valley, Alta.
     
    "This is really, really concerning," her aunt Donna Kazoleas told CTV. "Eden is a very, very good kid. She is very outgoing. She doesn't smoke. She doesn't drink."
     
    A Cambodian prosecutor Samrith Sokhon said Monday that the 10 foreigners — including five from the United Kingdom, and one each from Norway, the Netherlands and New Zealand — have denied any wrongdoing.
     
    Still, there is "enough evidence to prove that they violated the law and, therefore, they must face charges," Sokhon said.
     
    The accused face up to a year in prison if convicted. Since they are in jail, they could not be reached for comment and it was not immediately possible to find the lawyer representing them.
     
    Global Affairs Canada said it was providing consular services to the Canadians in Cambodia.
     
    "Consular officials are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information," said a spokesman, who added that he wouldn't comment further to protect the privacy of those involved.
     
    Police said they raided a rented villa Thursday in Siem Reap, where foreigners were taking part in what organizers called a pub crawl. Many were "dancing pornographically," officers said.
     
    While almost 90 foreigners were detained, all but the 10 were released.
     
    On Sunday, they were formally charged with producing pornographic pictures, which the prosecutor said had been posted on social media.
     
    Photos released by police show young adults rolling around together on a dance floor. They all have their clothes on except for a few shirtless men who can be seen straddling some women.
     
    The Khmer Times, an English-language newspaper close to the government, said some of the events were known as "Let's Get Wet."
     
    A Facebook page for Let's Get Wet parties in Siem Reap advertise "Asia's biggest pool crawl." It offers every Thursday "a whole day of partying in a Villa Mansion just out of town with hundreds of other backpackers" featuring a DJ, barbecue and pool.
     
    Photos on the Facebook page showed young people in bikinis and swimsuits at pool parties.
     
    Calls to the number listed on the page rang unanswered Monday.
     
    It is not the first time young travellers have found themselves in hot water in Cambodia. In recent years there has been a flurry of tourists who posed nude or semi-naked for photos at landmarks, including ancient temple sites, then posted the pictures on the internet. When caught, they have been expelled from the country.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Students Feel Safer With Police Presence In Certain Ontario High Schools: Study

    Students Feel Safer With Police Presence In Certain Ontario High Schools: Study
    MISSISSAUGA, Ont. — A new study suggests the practice of placing police officers in certain southern Ontario high schools made students feel safer while building good relationships with law enforcement.

    Students Feel Safer With Police Presence In Certain Ontario High Schools: Study

    Assault Was Videoed: Teen Pleads Guilty In Manitoba Woman's Fatal Beating

    Assault Was Videoed: Teen Pleads Guilty In Manitoba Woman's Fatal Beating
    WINNIPEG — A second teenage girl charged in the fatal beating of a young woman from an eastern Manitoba Indigenous community has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

    Assault Was Videoed: Teen Pleads Guilty In Manitoba Woman's Fatal Beating

    Newfoundland Woman Who Won $1.5M Lottery Jackpot While Fighting Cancer Has Died

    Newfoundland Woman Who Won $1.5M Lottery Jackpot While Fighting Cancer Has Died
    A Newfoundland woman who was suffering from an advanced form of cancer when she won a $1.5-million lottery jackpot in November has died.

    Newfoundland Woman Who Won $1.5M Lottery Jackpot While Fighting Cancer Has Died

    Woman Rescued From Toronto Construction Crane Last Year Gets Absolute Discharge

    Woman Rescued From Toronto Construction Crane Last Year Gets Absolute Discharge
    Marisa Lazo, 23, was stranded for hours after climbing a crane at a downtown construction site in the middle of the night in April.

    Woman Rescued From Toronto Construction Crane Last Year Gets Absolute Discharge

    Protest Against Tim Hortons Reaction To New Minimum Wage Planned Across Ontario

    Protest Against Tim Hortons Reaction To New Minimum Wage Planned Across Ontario
    TORONTO — Labour organizations across Ontario are holding rallies today to protest the actions some Tim Hortons franchises have taken in response to an increase in the province's minimum wage.

    Protest Against Tim Hortons Reaction To New Minimum Wage Planned Across Ontario

    Police Dog Easily Tracks Down Steak Thief After New Brunswick Grocery Larceny

    Police Dog Easily Tracks Down Steak Thief After New Brunswick Grocery Larceny
    SAINT JOHN, N.B. — A police dog had an extra edge tracking down an alleged thief on Tuesday: The suspect was carrying stolen steaks.

    Police Dog Easily Tracks Down Steak Thief After New Brunswick Grocery Larceny