PHNOM PENH, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court on Tuesday convicted a Moldovan woman of trafficking her compatriot into sex trade in Cambodia and sentenced her to eight years in prison, according to a verdict.
Liudmila Bejenari, 28, manager of the Ga-Do Italian Pizza and Wine Shop, was arrested at her shop in Phnom Penh in June 2015 after a then 19-year-old employee who is also from Moldova accused her of forcing her to have sex with customers.
In her complaint, the victim, known by her first name, Christina, said Bejenari had "lured" her to Cambodia with the promise of work, and when she arrived, Bejenari took her passport away, failed to pay her salary and forced her to have sex with customers.
Bejenari has been charged with "unlawful removal" under Article 10 of Cambodia's Anti-Trafficking Law.
"The court decided to sentence Liudmila Bejenari to 8 years in prison and ordered her to pay 30 million riel (7,500 U.S. dollars) in compensation to the victim," said the verdict pronounced by Phnom Penh Municipal Court's Presiding Judge Svay Tonh.
During a trial session last month, Bejenari denied the allegations that she lured Christina to Cambodia, or forced her to have sex with customers.
Under the kingdom's law, Bejenari has one month to appeal against her eight-year sentence.
