Fugitive Belgian paedophile Pieter Ceulen under arrest after surrendering to police in Phnom Penh
Fugitive convicted paedophile Pieter Ceulen is in police custody and facing extradition to serve a 19 year prison sentence in Belgium after his lawyers negotiated a surrender today. He was arrested by Child Protection Unit officials at Independent Monument in Phnom Penh at 12 noon local time.
Ceulen has been the subject of an extensive manhunt in Cambodia since he fled Belgium two days before being sentenced by a court in Antwerp on January 21. He was widely believed to have fled to Cambodia where he has extensive business and property interests. Close members of his immediate family also live in Siem Reap, although they are believed to have left Cambodia shortly at the end of January to return to Belgium.
Ceulen’s arrest comes after officials from Cambodian, Belgian and Dutch authorities cooperated to find him. Various properties in Siem Reap have been searched in recent days, and the evidence they produced convinced the authorities he was still in the country.
The breakthrough came last night, when CPU was contacted by Ceulen’s lawyers seeking to negotiate his surrender. It is believed he came increasingly to realise that he had no opportunity to leave Cambodia and his involuntary capture was imminent.
James McCabe from the CPU said in a text message: “Arrangements [were made] over 24hrs after intense media, both print and social. Although CPU did and does not comment on forums, I would like to acknowledge K440’s input in keeping the pressure on which was part of the investigative plan.”