The Conspiracy: A Story of a Young Cambodian Lady Tricked into the Trap of Human Trafficking

Along with interning with NightLight comes the expectation and responsibility of diligent research on the topic of sex trafficking so that we as a team know how to speak intelligently on the issue and convey to others the deep need for justice and vindication.

I recently started reading the book, Not For Sale by David Batstone. Many of you have asked me how young girls get caught in the trap of trafficking and prostitution, and this is just one story and example from a young lady in Cambodia who was tricked into selling her body. As you read this though, I suggest that you take caution and guard your heart. The issue of human trafficking is nothing light and fluffy, rather heavy on the heart and often very discouraging. I wanted to share this story with you though, so that you can better understand the industry that my team and I will be fighting against through the wisdom, strength, and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Also as you read this, understand that I have the opportunity to serve overseas with this ministry, NightLight, at their base in Thailand and I am in need of counsel and guidance from the Lord on whether or not an internship in Thailand would be something I should pursue or not. So please pray that the Lord will make that clear to me in the next several months ahead!

Here is the story of Srey Neang:

Srey Neang did not go on excursions beyond the occasional outing with Sovanna. She had no friends- she celebrated her fifteenth birthday alone tending the shop. Work was her life.

So when Tevy asked Srey Neang to accompany her on a trip to the ancient Buddhist temple of Angkor Wat, she practically fell speechless. Tevy lived down the street and was a close friend to Sovanna's wife, Ly, which made the invitation all the more unexpected. Because Ly had spoiled her reputation in the neighborhood, Srey Neang had resigned herself to being a social leper. Miraculously, both Sovanna's mother and Ly gave her leave to go on the trip. During the three years she had lived at their home, Srey Neang had never even a single day off.

Tevy borrowed a car for the journey. As soon as they had left Phnom Penh, Srey Neang lost her bearings. She had heard the name Angkor Wat on the lips of tourists to whom she sold cakes in the city plaza. But it could be located on the moon for all she knew.

After a long morning on the highway, a sign welcomed them to the town of Siem Reap. Tevy suddenly announced, "My cousin lives here, and I promised him that I would drop in and say hello". A few minutes later, she pulled over to park in front of a karaoke club.

They jumped out of the car and walked to a set of stairs attached to the side of the club. Tevy's "cousin" awaited them on the top landing. He introduced himself as Chuan and offered both his visitors a cold drink. After a few minutes of small talk, he ushered Tevy into an adjoining room and shut the door. Srey Neang awkwardly sat alone in the living room.

Nearly half an hour passed before the two reemerged. Tevy did not hesitate to drop a bombshell: "I've run out of cash. Before we go on to Angkor Wat, I need to pick up some money. You stay here with my cousin, and I'll come back and pick you up later."

The words packed a punch to Strey Neang's stomach. She could not identify the precise story line, but she sensed danger. "Oh, please let me go with you," she begged Tevy. "I won't be any trouble."

"No," Tevy snapped, "you'll just get in the way."

Tevy then walked swiftly to the door and down the stairs to her car. Srey Neang stood motionless for a few seconds before breaking into a convulsion of sobs.

"Oh, come on now, what are you worried about?" she heard Chuan's voice behind her. Srey Neang turned and saw his outstretched hand holding a tissue. "You'll have lots of fun here," he said.

Srey Neang did not respond, but cried quietly into the now-drenched tissue.

"Hey, why don't we go out to a nice restaraunt and celebrate your arrival in Siem Reap?" Chuan suggested. "I guarantee that you'll love the food."

Chuan raised his hand as if to say, "Wait here for a moment," and scurried off to the adjoining room. A few moments later he returned holding a beautiful black dress and matching shoes.

"These should cheer you up," he said enthusiastically. "We are going to a very nice restaraunt, the best in town, and you have to look like you belong there."

Srey Neang never imagined herself in such an elegant dress. Her wardrobe consisted of a skirt, two shirts, and a single pair of pants, all of which had turned threadbare from regular use. Perhaps, she thought, it was a stroke of luck that Tevy had left her with Chuan.

Nor had Srey Neang dined at a restaraunt where servesrs wait on customers. During the meal, Chuan asked her lots of questions about herself. Yes, she was fifteen years old. No, she did not live with her parents. She did not allow the small talk to interfere with the enjoyment of her meal.

The dinner over, they strolled back to the karaoke bar. "Let's go inside the club," Chuan said upon their arrival. "I want you to meet a couple of my friends."

Srey Neang followed him through the entrance. At first her eyes had trouble adjusting to the darkness of the room. Slowly, she could make out the scene. At nearly every table a middle-aged man enjoyed the company of two or more young women who casually draped their bodies around him.

Chuan led her through the club, occasionally pausing to give a brief greeting to a male patron. once they reached a staircase at the back of the club, he pointed upward with his index finger. Srey Neang went first. At the top of the stairs they reached a small hallway with three doors, all shut. She turned around to get further instructions. Chuan jerked his head deliberately to the right, indicating which door she was to open.

Srey Neang turned the knob and tentatively pushed forward. It startled her to see a man standing in the middle of the room as if he were anticipating her arrival. She heard the sound of the door click shut behind her. She did not need to turn her head to know that Chuan had not entered the room with her.

The room did not hold much furniture, save a bed and a small nightstand. The man, in his mid-thirties, appeared to be a Cambodian. He uttered a simple, shocking command in the local dialect: "Take off your clothes".

Srey Neang reeled backward toward the door. "I'm sorry," she said, trying her best to keep a steady voice. "You must be confusing me with someone else."

"No, I'm not mistaken," he replied. "I paid good money for you." He then held out the palms of his hands, whispering, "Now be a good girl, and show me what you've got under that dress."

Srey Neang spun around and flew out the door in retreat. Chuan, however, was waiting for her on the other side of the door. He wrapped his arms around her torso and squeezed her in a strong bear hug. Srey Neang struggled with all her might but could not break free.

"Let go of me, you brute!" she screamed.

"You aren't going anywhere until you pay back what you owe me!" Chuan yelled as he dragged her toward the room.

"What do you mean, 'what I owe you'?" she asked incredulously. "You never gave me any money!"

"Oh, yeah, how about your dinner tonight?" he said. "You also owe me for those clothes you're wearing. And I gave $150 to that woman who brought you here this afternoon."

Once he finished listing her debts, Chuan shoved her toward the man, saying, "Now unless you have some other way of paying me, get to work!"

"Tevy had no right to sell me!" Srey Neang protested in red rage. "I've never had anything to do with that witch until she tricked me into coming on this trip."

Chuan could not have shown any less interest in fairness. Ignoring her plea, he changed tactics: "You aren't fooling me with your fake innocence. I know you're already used goods."

"What do you take me for?" asked Srey Neang. "I'm still a virgin!"

"That's not the story I got," Chuan said as he chuckled. "Young girls should not be screwing around with other women's husbands."

In a flash, the veil fell from Srey Neang's eyes. So here was her punishment for being a close friend to Sovanna. She had fallen for an intricate conspiracy. The air went out of her rebellion.

Chuan, sensing his victory, offered encouragement: "Hey, don't worry. After a few times, it's not hard. You'll get used to it."

By night's end, four adult men had raped Srey Neang. The nights to follow never got better.