NZer's appeal against rape conviction 'granted'

Cambodia has greed to hear the appeal of New Zealander Graham Cleghorn's who is serving a 20-year jail term for rape, the Associated Press reported.

New Zealand's ambassador in Bangkok met Cambodia's Justice Minister yesterday to present grounds for a rehearing of an appeal.

Former aid worker, Cleghorn, 55, was jailed in February 2004 for the rape of five teenage girls of which he has protested his innocence.

He is being held in Phnom Penh's Prey Sar prison.

Cleghorn's appeal against the charges was thrown out by the Appeals Court in January, without him even knowing about the hearing.

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF, NZPA