FRENCHMAN CONVICTED OF RAPING CHILD

Amnon Chemouil, a 47-year-old Frenchman, is accused of raping a 12-year-old child while he was on vacation in Thailand in 1994.  On Friday he was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison.  He could have faced up to 20 years but prosecutors asked for a 10-year sentence.  He has also been ordered to pay $6,385 in damages to the victim.  This was a successful conclusion for prosecutors in their first attempt to crack down on French travelers who go overseas to sexually exploit children.

(Paris)