A Mongolian court has dismissed a case against a newspaper reporter who made troubling claims about pedophilia in Mongolia. On November 8, 2010, the reporter D. Bolormaa published a story in the Zuunii Medee newspaper claiming that an organized group on Mongolia was selling girls as young as 14 for USD 400, and that B. Narankhuu, a prominent businessman, was involved in the activity. After the article was published, the businessman sued the reporter, alleging that his reputation had been damaged. Today the court dismissed the case, citing a lack of evidence.

D.Bolormaa said that she wrote the article based on a credible source. But she said the case has taken a toll on her. “It is harmful to investigate serious cases,” she said. B. Narankhuu can appeal today’s ruling, but his lawyer said he had not yet decided whether he would. The lawyer said he believed the reporter had “falsified reports.”