Conviction of Police a Warning to All: Hok Lundy
By Prak Chan Thul
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy on Monday welcomed the conviction of six former Phnom Penh police officers for the torture and murder of a woman who died in police custody last year.
The case against the officers, who were each sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday, should serve as a warning to police of all ranks that they will not go unpunished if they break the law, he said.
"We support the court trial of the individuals who did wrong," Hok Lundy said by telephone. "We will enforce the law against anyone who does wrong," he said.
"Even for Interior Ministry police, even if they are generals."
Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted Hang Setha, 38, former chief of minor crime, his deputy, Ly Rasy, 36, and section chief Sim Sitha, 44, of conspiring to murder Duong Sopheap, who died in police detention in June 2005.
Officers Chan Sovanny, 41, Phon Chan Nary, 47, and Oum Samnang, 31, were found guilty of murder.
Kim Lila, a lawyer for Ly Rasy, said the court had been pressured to convict the officers and that defense attorneys for all six were calling for the case to be reopened.
"Everybody knows this case was under pressure," she said, though she would not say from which quarter. "The woman didn't die in the hands of the police."
Chea Kimhoy, the 58-year-old mother of Ly Rasy, said her son punished as part of a settling of scores among more senior police officials.
"It was like a trial planned to punish him," she said. "It is revenge among police chiefs."
Relatives of the arrested police officers have previously said that their arrest stemmed from a dispute between Hok Lundy and former Municipal Police Chief Heng Pov. Heng Pov and Hok Lundy have both denied the allegations.
Heng Pov could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Hok Lundy denied that any pressure was exerted on the case.
"The [Interior] Ministry didn't apply any pressure," Hok Lundy said, adding that defense lawyers are free to appeal the ruling.
Chhe Vibol, a lawyer monitoring the trial for local rights group Adhoc, said it had been fair.
"Duong Sopheap really died in the police station," he said. "The trial was acceptable."
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
The case against the officers, who were each sentenced to 12 years in prison on Friday, should serve as a warning to police of all ranks that they will not go unpunished if they break the law, he said.
"We support the court trial of the individuals who did wrong," Hok Lundy said by telephone. "We will enforce the law against anyone who does wrong," he said.
"Even for Interior Ministry police, even if they are generals."
Phnom Penh Municipal Court convicted Hang Setha, 38, former chief of minor crime, his deputy, Ly Rasy, 36, and section chief Sim Sitha, 44, of conspiring to murder Duong Sopheap, who died in police detention in June 2005.
Officers Chan Sovanny, 41, Phon Chan Nary, 47, and Oum Samnang, 31, were found guilty of murder.
Kim Lila, a lawyer for Ly Rasy, said the court had been pressured to convict the officers and that defense attorneys for all six were calling for the case to be reopened.
"Everybody knows this case was under pressure," she said, though she would not say from which quarter. "The woman didn't die in the hands of the police."
Chea Kimhoy, the 58-year-old mother of Ly Rasy, said her son punished as part of a settling of scores among more senior police officials.
"It was like a trial planned to punish him," she said. "It is revenge among police chiefs."
Relatives of the arrested police officers have previously said that their arrest stemmed from a dispute between Hok Lundy and former Municipal Police Chief Heng Pov. Heng Pov and Hok Lundy have both denied the allegations.
Heng Pov could not be reached for comment on Monday.
Hok Lundy denied that any pressure was exerted on the case.
"The [Interior] Ministry didn't apply any pressure," Hok Lundy said, adding that defense lawyers are free to appeal the ruling.
Chhe Vibol, a lawyer monitoring the trial for local rights group Adhoc, said it had been fair.
"Duong Sopheap really died in the police station," he said. "The trial was acceptable."
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
2 comments:
The Dog had just barked. We will have to wait to see who hand the money bag to ah Hok.
I hope they argue some more and this time they are going to use gun on each other!
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