‘Offensive’ Briton who ‘danced pornographically’ in Cambodia sentenced
Ten foreigners, including five from the UK, were detained in late January when police raided a party.
A British man has received a suspended one-year sentence from a Cambodian court that found him guilty of producing pornography by posting photos on social media of sexually suggestive dancing at a party with other foreigners.
Daniel Jones, 31, could be freed on Wednesday after serving one month and 22 days in prison, with the rest of his sentence suspended, said court spokesman Yin Srang.
He said Jones may stay in custody if the prosecutor files an appeal within one day.
Ten foreigners – five from the UK, two from Canada, and one each from Norway, the Netherlands and New Zealand – were detained in late January when police raided the commercially organised party at a rented villa in Siem Reap and found people dancing by a swimming pool.
The town in north-western Cambodia is near the Angkor Wat temple complex that draws millions of tourists.
Police said those detained in the raid had been “dancing pornographically” and offended Cambodian standards of morality.
The nine other foreigners were released on bail and deported last month, after which the charges against them were dropped.
In the trial’s one day of testimony last week, Jones told the court he did not know the pictures he posted on Facebook would offend Cambodian culture.
“I don’t understand about Cambodian law and I am very sorry,” he said.
He denied that anyone had sex or used drugs at the party on January 25.
