Phnom Penh City Court yesterday (26) began the trial of a transgender woman suspected of distributing pornographic information online.
Municipal Court Judge Keth Socheath identified the defendant as 28-year-old Morn Eva, who used to work in a KTV bar in the TK area of Phnom Penh as a masseur.
MornEva faces two charges of "pornography and indecent assault" under Sections 38 and 39 of the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Act and Section 249 of the Penal Code. If convicted, she faces up to a year in prison and a fine of $50 to $500.
According to court documents, Eva was arrested on February 19 after uploading several photos of her genitals and a clip of sex on her Facebook account.
"She's a trans woman. She posted seven pictures of her genitals, all of them about transgender male to female. She also posted clips of herself having sex with her partner on Facebook. What she did It's something other women would even want to see," Judge Soches said. "Her posts were shared and severely criticized by other users who said she brought disgrace to the tradition of Khmer and the image of women in Cambodia," he said.
During yesterday's court hearing, Eva admitted Committed the crime and just said she did it because she wanted to show her friends and other men that she was now a woman and therefore could have sex with other men just like other women.
Eva added that she had no idea she was breaking Cambodian law, noting that she only wanted to attract other men who might be interested in paying her for sex so she could earn money to support her family.
She apologized for her actions and then demanded a lighter sentence and immediate release from prison as she claimed her genitals were infected and developed genital ulcers due to a lack of proper hygiene in the prison where she was detained.
“I have no intention of destroying the traditions of Khmer nor the honor of Cambodian women. I have now admitted my mistake and promise that it will not happen again in the future,” Eva said. "I have developed ulcers on my genitals which will soon develop into cancer if I do not receive proper treatment. I ask the court to reduce my sentence and release me from prison so that I can be treated."
Deputy Public Prosecutor of Municipal Court Sam Rithyveasna said Eva's actions grossly disregarded Cambodian values.
"As the court's prosecutor, I will uphold the defendant's charges. I ask the judge to punish her according to law," he said. The court will issue a ruling on June 9.
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