Briton charged with making child porn

A British language school director has been arrested in Cambodia after being allegedly caught making pornographic videos of girls in a public park.

A British language school director has been arrested in Cambodia after being allegedly caught making pornographic videos of girls in a public park.

Jon Keeler, the director of the London School of English in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, was taken into custody on Saturday in the small town of Takhmau, 10 miles south of the capital.

Police officials and prosecutors said that Mr Keeler, 55, had been charged after being found making videos in the park with four street girls, two aged 8 and two aged 10, following complaints from local stall holders.

He allegedly bribed the children with a bag of sweets to lift their skirts or strip, and then persuaded them to perform indecent acts on themselves while he filmed them.

Chuon Sovann, the military police commander for Kandal province, said several people had complained about his behaviour. "We confiscated a lot of evidence, including a video camera and a pornographic video showing the four girls."

Chheng Phat, a prosecutor with the Kandal provincial court, said the police were also investigating to see whether the girls had been drugged. "We have charged him with pornography involving underage girls," he said.

If convicted, Mr Keeler faces 10 to 20 years in prison. British embassy officials and his lawyer, Keo Kim San, have visited Mr Keeler but refused to comment on his case. The embassy is understood to be offering him routine help and support.