A 28-year-old garment factory worker who appeared in Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged with attempted rape of a co-worker in the factory lunchroom told the court the couple were in love.

The court heard the accused, Chan Thy, met his co-worker in the deserted lunchroom at the Chi An garment factory on September 15 this year and they sat talking.

He then carried her to a pile of paper about 10 meters away from the table and began making a mat on the floor with pieces of paper. They then lay down on the mat and he took her pants off.

But they were disturbed by the sound of footsteps and put their clothes back on and went back to work, according to the complaint lodged in court.

Mr. Thy and the woman are both married. When the woman returned home that night and told her grandfather what had happened, he became furious and filed a police report.

During the hearing, Mr. Thy told the court that it was not a rape but was instead consensual. He said he and the woman had known each other for some time and talked together every day outside the factory.

“In the lunchroom that day, I told her I love her, and she told me she loves me too,” Mr. Thy told the court.

Judge San Saroeun told Mr. Thy that the victim had withdrawn the complaint against him due to an arrangement between her family and his family. However, the case will continue and a verdict is due to be issued on December 30.