Nurse Yem Chrin charged with infecting 100 villagers in Cambodia with HIV

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – An
unlicensed medical practitioner suspected of
negligently infecting more than 100 villagers
in northwestern Cambodia with the virus
that causes AIDS was charged Monday with
murder and other crimes, a prosecutor said.
Yem Chhrin was charged with murder
carried out with cruelty, intentionally
spreading HIV — human immunodeficiency
virus — and practicing medicine without a
license, said Nuon San, a Battambang
provincial court prosecutor.
Health officials say 106 people out of more
than 800 tested in Roka village were found
to have the virus. Cambodian media have
reported that the infected villagers range in
age from 3 to 82 years old and include
Buddhist monks.
Seng Loch, a senior provincial police officer,
said Yem Chhrin acknowledged reusing
syringes for treatment of patients, a practice
that can spread HIV.