Canadian paedophile goes on trial in Bangkok court
Christopher Paul Neil faces 20 years in prison
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Monday, 10, Mar 2008 02:59
A Canadian suspect in an Interpol investigation into the sexual abuse of a nine-year-old boy went on trial in a Thai court today.
Christopher Paul Neil, 32, has pleaded not guilty to the charges, after he was arrested by Thai police in October 2007.
Interpol launched a worldwide appeal last year to help them catch Mr Neil.
He now faces up to 20 years in prison for the charges brought against him, including sexually abusing a minor, videotaping the abuse, taking a child without parental consent and holding the child against his will.
Mr Neil appeared relaxed in the Bangkok court today, waving and smiling to a friend. His opening hearing was later adjourned for the court to assign him a defence lawyer.
Interpol has alleged that Mr Neil may have appeared in over 200 photographs depicting child abuse.
In the photographs, discovered on the internet in 2004, the Canadian's face was obscured by a digital swirl.
However, last year German experts at the Federal Criminal Police Office were able to reconstruct the image and reveal Mr Neil's identity.
A worldwide search was subsequently launched and police arrested Mr Neil 11 days later as he attempted to fly from South Korea to Bangkok.
Mr Neil has worked as an English teacher in South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam since 2000.