Battambang Police Arrest Primary School Principal for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Minor

In Cambodia's Battambang province, a primary school principal has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor. According to the Provincial Police Information and Rapid Reaction Team, the arrest was made on the morning of September 9, 2026, following an order to appear from the Battambang Provincial Court Prosecutor. The arrested suspect, identified as Chok Hong, the principal of Wat Keo Primary School, is accused of engaging in sexual acts with a minor under the age of 15. He had been on the run since the allegations surfaced but was located and apprehended by police authorities in Bavet district. He has since been taken to the Provincial Police Headquarters for further legal proceedings. The operation and arrest were carried out in cooperation with specialized departments of the National Police Headquarters, the Child Protection Unit (CPU), and police from the involved districts of Ek Phnom and Bavet. This incident highlights the critical social issue of child protection and ensuring safety within educational institutions in Cambodia. Acts of abuse by educational personnel severely damage the trust of parents and the wider community, necessitating strict legal enforcement.