PHNOM PENH (FN), Feb.3 - A husband and wife were convicted on Feb.3 by Phnom Penh Municipal Court and sentenced to two years each in prison for physically torturing a total of 19 children over the last two years.

The couple was convicted by the court after they were found guilty of hiring 19 children, aging 7 to 17, between 2014 and 2015, and forcing them to do physical hard works, and nighttime labor which were found harmful to the children’s physical health.

Nhoeung Saroeun, Presiding Judge at Phnom Penh Municipal Court said that Chea Sady, 28, and his wife Then Vanthai, 30, were charged with Subjecting a minor to working conditions that were harmful to children’s health and physical development under Article 339 of the Penal Code.

He added that they were arrested at their rental house at Doeum Chan village, Sangkat Chbar Ampov II, on September 23, 2015. After their arrests, police have rescued 19 children on board, all of whom were sent to an NGO, Hope for Justice Organization, in Phnom Penh.