ONE of Australia's most senior diplomats and a former ambassador to Cambodia, Mr John Scott face was yesterday ordered a Canberra committal hearing on a charge of having sex with a child in Cambodia.
The magistrate, Mr Michael adjourned the case to August 19th when the hearing will decide if Mr Holloway (53), should stand trial.
Mr Holloway, who also served as a senior adviser to the Cambodian government, has been charged in Canberra with having, sex with a child under 16 between, July 14th and September 30th 1994 in Phnom Penh.
He is the second Australian to be charged under a 1994 law allowing Australians to be prosecuted at home for sex with children overseas. The charge can carry a jail term of up to 17 years. The first was jailed for six years recently for having sex with a six year old in Manila.
Mr Holloway did not appear in court and submitted no formal plea. But his lawyer, Mr Richard Refshauge, issued a statement denying the charge. It said "He believes the charge has been motivated by disaffected persons with whom he had unfortunate dealings when serving his country with distinction as a senior ambassador."
Brian Donaghy adds from Adelaide Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Alexander Downer, announced earlier this week that the government would launch an independent inquiry into allegations that a number of Australian diplomats had been involved in paedophilia. Significantly, Mr Downer's promise was made in the Thai capital Bangkok.