Across Asia: Cambodia

Child abuser appeals

A Russian businessman accused of sexually abusing 19 children in Cambodia appealed against his conviction on Wednesday in a case that highlights an expanding crackdown to rid the impoverished country of pedophiles.

Lawyers for Alexander Trofimov, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison and is also wanted by Interpol and Russia for alleged sex offenses, claimed there was no solid evidence to prove he had abused 19 girls while working as a director of a holiday resort company worth $300 million.