The Immigration police in Cambodia said it arrested an American who is accused of sexual abuse of a child in the United States.

He was found in hiding in Sihanoukville by Cambodian police and was arrested on August 29, 2018.

Gen. Sok Phal, General Director of the General Department of Immigration, told Rasmey Kampuchea that the arrest was following a request by the US Embassy’s Regional Security Office (RSO).

A day ago, the National Police, in a statement, said they were looking to arrest a suspected paedophile who fled the United States to Cambodia.

The Interior Ministry spokesman General Khieu Sopheak said the ministry received a notice on Thursday from the US embassy stating that William David Brenner is wanted over the sexual abuse of children.

“Yes, we have received the letter and our police officers are working on the case,” Gen Sopheak said to local newspapers. “The US Regional Security Office in Cambodia has asked the General Immigration Department to arrest William Brenner.”

According to the letter, Mr Brenner is said to be in the Preah Sihanouk province.

The notice said Mr Brenner does not have valid travel documents, a violation of Cambodian immigration law.

William Brenner is being transported to Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, where he will be repatriated to the United States for prosecution.

Samleang Seila, Anti-paedophile Action Pour Les Enfants country director, told Khmer Times he was not aware of the case, but nonetheless appealed for police to quickly apprehend Mr Brenner before he can commit a crime in Cambodia.