Algerian man to stand trial for molesting 10-year-old girl in HCMC

By Binh Nguyen November 18, 2024 | 10:36 am GMT+7Ho Chi Minh City prosecutors have completed required procedures to send an Algerian man to court for molesting a 10-year-old girl at a supermarket.

Mehtar Tani Khadir, 54, will be tried for "sexually abusing a person under 16".

Born in Algeria, Mehtar began moving across different countries for work and living opportunities at the age of 29, including Thailand, Cambodia, and Denmark.

In 2023, he relocated to Vietnam but has not held any stable jobs since.

According to the indictment, on April 13 this year, Mehtar had approached the girl who went with her mother to a supermarket on Phan Van Tri Street in Go Vap District. As the mother stopped to chat with a friend on the ground floor, the girl asked to go on her own on the first floor to check a toy shop there.

While she was browsing the toys displayed in the shop, Mehtar waved at her, and gestured for her to follow him.

The child later explained that she believed she had dropped one of her toys on the way upstairs and thought the man was pointing out where she had lost it, so she followed him.

He then led her to an isolated area, where he began touching and kissing her. Terrified, the girl managed to escape and flee the scene.

Her mother found her later and reported Mehtar.

Guards at the supermarket held him and call the police.

During questioning, Mehtar admitted he had previously molested several minor girls in Vietnam. Police have not been able to identify them all.

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