Appeals Court uphold 37-year term against convicted Dutch paedophile

The Appeals Court Wednesday upheld 37-year jail term against a Dutch convicted in molesting a 12-year-old boy in 2007.

The Appeals Court upheld the guilty verdict against Willem Gerard Knoppien, 54.

Earlier, the Criminal Court found Knoppien guilty of luring the boy to be molested in his rented house in Prachuap Khiri Khna in March 2007.

The court also found his accomplice, Thanes Bualuang, 35, guilty of soliciting the boy for Knoppien and sentenced the Thai man to 26 years and eight months in jaill.

Knoppien appealed against the guilty verdict but the Appeals Court upheld the guilty verdict on ground that the boy should not lie so the court believes the boy's testimony against the Dutch man.

The court also reasoned that Thanes had admitted soliciting the boy for Knoppien.

The Nation