By Prak Chan Thul
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Disgraced former municipal police chief Heng Pov was sentenced in absentia Monday to 18 years in prison for ordering the 2003 murder of Municipal Court Judge Sok Sethamony.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court also handed down 16-year sentences to five other police officers implicated in the killing: Hang Vuthy, who police say is at large, Ly Rasy, Prum Sophearith, Hang Vutha and Oum Samkheng.
Convicted in absentia, Heng Pov and Hang Vuthy will begin their sentences the day they are arrested, judge Kim Ravy said.
Authorities announced a warrant for Heng Pov’s arrest July 31 for his role in the killing, as well as three other attempted murders. Ly Rasy was charged over the killing in January while the other four defendants were charged in February.
Kim Ravy ordered the six to also pay $300,000 in compensation to the late judge's widow. However, the judge said the funds could come from money seized from Heng Pov.
David Chen, an Australian lawyer acting for Heng Pov, did not respond to requests for comment, though Chen and Heng Pov have previously denied all charges.
Heng Pov left Cambodia in July and is now seeking political asylum.
Sok Sethamony, 42, was shot dead by gunmen in April 2003 as he waited at a traffic light on Phnom Penh's Sihanouk Boulevard.
Hang Vutha drove the motorbike from which Oum Samkheng shot the judge, Kim Ravy told the court. Hang Vuthy and Prum Sophearith followed on a different motorbike, he said.
"Oum Samkheng shot Judge Sok Sethamony with five bullets and Hang Vuthy gave Oum Samkheng $1,200," Kim Ravy said. 'The crime was committed on orders from Ly Rasy and Heng Pov."
During the four-hour trial, Prum Sophearith and Hang Vutha denied the charges but refused to answer questions. They rejected court appointed council as they said they had not been able to speak to their attorneys prior to the hearing.
Lawyer Long Dara, who represented Ly Rasy and Oum Samkheng, and lawyer Ty Vanndeth, who represented Heng Pov, both denied the charges against their clients.
"There isn't a single piece of evidence," Ty Vanndeth said.
Evidence introduced at trial included sworn statements from Rural Development Minister Lu Laysreng, who said he heard the judge receive a death threat, and Phok Manny, a Justice Ministry undersecretary of state, who said the victim had asked for a judge to investigate Heng Pov.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
Phnom Penh Municipal Court also handed down 16-year sentences to five other police officers implicated in the killing: Hang Vuthy, who police say is at large, Ly Rasy, Prum Sophearith, Hang Vutha and Oum Samkheng.
Convicted in absentia, Heng Pov and Hang Vuthy will begin their sentences the day they are arrested, judge Kim Ravy said.
Authorities announced a warrant for Heng Pov’s arrest July 31 for his role in the killing, as well as three other attempted murders. Ly Rasy was charged over the killing in January while the other four defendants were charged in February.
Kim Ravy ordered the six to also pay $300,000 in compensation to the late judge's widow. However, the judge said the funds could come from money seized from Heng Pov.
David Chen, an Australian lawyer acting for Heng Pov, did not respond to requests for comment, though Chen and Heng Pov have previously denied all charges.
Heng Pov left Cambodia in July and is now seeking political asylum.
Sok Sethamony, 42, was shot dead by gunmen in April 2003 as he waited at a traffic light on Phnom Penh's Sihanouk Boulevard.
Hang Vutha drove the motorbike from which Oum Samkheng shot the judge, Kim Ravy told the court. Hang Vuthy and Prum Sophearith followed on a different motorbike, he said.
"Oum Samkheng shot Judge Sok Sethamony with five bullets and Hang Vuthy gave Oum Samkheng $1,200," Kim Ravy said. 'The crime was committed on orders from Ly Rasy and Heng Pov."
During the four-hour trial, Prum Sophearith and Hang Vutha denied the charges but refused to answer questions. They rejected court appointed council as they said they had not been able to speak to their attorneys prior to the hearing.
Lawyer Long Dara, who represented Ly Rasy and Oum Samkheng, and lawyer Ty Vanndeth, who represented Heng Pov, both denied the charges against their clients.
"There isn't a single piece of evidence," Ty Vanndeth said.
Evidence introduced at trial included sworn statements from Rural Development Minister Lu Laysreng, who said he heard the judge receive a death threat, and Phok Manny, a Justice Ministry undersecretary of state, who said the victim had asked for a judge to investigate Heng Pov.
(Additional reporting by Douglas Gillison)
4 comments:
I don't believe what it said in here. If Heng Pov is really a crimal, he would have been sent back to cambodia already. HUN SEN you have too many blood in your hand. The devil and the people who got killed from you are waiting to get you soon.
Everynody knows the stories in Cambodia. All the scenarios concerning HENG Pov and his colleagues are created by Ah HOK Longdy or Ah Kdy!
The Khmer government has never learned their lessons from the past history. Stop killing each other. The Khmer land is shrinking by their neighbors. Focu on unity so your neigbors can not look down on you. The Viet and Thai are happy to see The Khmers are killing each other.
It's the Viets in Khmer disguise who are killing Khmers. Both Hok Lundy and Heng Pov are Viet descendants. They are in conflict with one another, but it's Khmer subordinates who are in jail while Heng Pov remains free abroad.
Whatever his ancestry is, Heng Pov should repay his debts to the country he claimed to love by revealing to the world all the crimes and murders committed by Hun Sen, Hok Lundy and their cronies against the Khmer nation and people. The Cambodian people will support you in this endeavour.
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