Convicted BC sex criminal arrested in Cambodia over child rape allegations

WARNING: This story contains disturbing details of alleged child sex crimes.

Investigators in Canada and Cambodia are investigating the activities of a Vancouver man arrested for a number of sex crimes against Cambodian children.

The Child Protection Unit, an investigative group affiliated with the Cambodian Ministry of Interior and funded by the nonprofit Cambodian Children’s Fund, said Andrew David Eyre, 43, was arrested and charged last week with aggravated rape of a child and indecent assault.

The allegations relate to eight Cambodian victims between the ages of 8 and 12, unit director James McCabe said.

RCMP told CBC News they are also investigating Eyre.

« The RCMP Liaison Officer in Thailand and the National Child Exploitation Crime Center are taking a closer look at Eyre’s activities in Canada and abroad, » wrote Sgt. Caroline Duval in an email.

« In addition, the liaison officer assists the investigative team in Cambodia. »

Eyre, according to a LinkedIn page matching his description, has employment, education and volunteer connections in Burnaby.

Cpl. Burnaby RCMP’s Alexa Hodgins told CBC in an email that constables there « had previous records with Andrew Eyre in 2018 in which he was convicted of sex-related offences. »

The British Columbia Prosecution Service had no comment on the prior convictions and follow-up questions to the RCMP received no immediate response.

McCabe says investigators in Cambodia intend to cast a wide net looking into what Eyre’s actions were in that country.

Remote village allegedly visited

According to McCabe, Eyre allegedly visited an isolated community in Kandal province, 75 kilometers from the capital, Phnom Penh.

He claimed to be a doctor and performed examinations on several children. It was during these interrogations that the offenses were allegedly committed.

McCabe said the welfare and condition of the children was being monitored.

Connections in Burnaby

The Child Protection Unit and the Cambodian Children’s Fund have described Eyre as an executive chef. A LinkedIn page is online matching his name, culinary work experience, time spent in Cambodia and approximate age.

The page lists Eyre as currently working in Phnom Penh after working in China and at several restaurants, catering businesses and a golf course in British Columbia.

The page also lists him as a volunteer at Willingdon Church in Burnaby. A pastor there told CBC he remembered Eyre from several years ago, but was unsure if Eyre was a volunteer. Either way, he hadn’t heard of any trouble with him.

The LinkedIn page also lists Eyre as a volunteer cooking teacher at Burnaby Central Secondary School. The British Columbia Teachers’ Registry does not list anyone bearing his name as having held a teacher’s license, and there is no history of discipline for anyone bearing his name.

The CBC has so far been unable to get a response from the Burnaby School District.

Human rights concerns

The allegations against Eyre in Cambodia have not been tested in court.

McCabe says Eyre is still in custody. If convicted of aggravated child rape, he could face seven to 15 years in prison. Penalties for indecent assault range from a fine to three years imprisonment.

The US State Department has noted « significant human rights issues » in Cambodia, including concerns about the fairness of its justice system.

McCabe says Eyre has received a lawyer and will receive a fair trial, including access to consular supports.

“He will have the rights of the justice system, which is a pretty solid system,” McCabe said, adding that Eyre had offered no explanation for his alleged actions.

Global Affairs Canada says it is aware of a Canadian detained in Cambodia and is gathering more information.

Sex tourism a notorious problem

While Cambodia is known for its incredible culture and natural beauty, it struggles with crushing poverty and the legacies of civil war and the Khmer Rouge dictatorship and genocide.

Cambodia has long had the reputation of being a destination for “sex tourism”. Exploitation of minors has been recognized as a problem by many agencies in this country and beyond its borders, including the United Nations.

McCabe, however, thinks things have improved over the past 10 to 15 years.

“The efforts of the international community, the Cambodian National Police and the Cambodian government to eradicate child sex tourism have been successful and they should be applauded for that,” he said.

McCabe adds that if Eyre were to be convicted in Cambodia, he could also face prosecution in Canada upon his return to that country.