Prince Norodom Ranariddh (Photo: RFA)Deposed Cambodia's royalist party leader returns home to fight lawsuit
The Associated Press
The ousted head of Cambodia's royalist Funcinpec party has returned to the country to fight corruption charges, officials said Sunday.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh — who was deposed as the president of Funcinpec on Oct. 18 — arrived quietly from Malaysia on Saturday, said Ok Socheat, his adviser.
On Friday, Nouv Sovathero, a Funcinpec spokesman, said the party has filed a lawsuit with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against Ranariddh for embezzling some US$3.6 million (€2.8 million) from the party's coffers.
The money came from the sale of party property last August, he said, adding the lawsuit also demanded US$1 million (€777,650) in compensation from Ranariddh on top of the allegedly embezzled funds.
Ok Socheat, Ranariddh's adviser, said the prince has returned to prepare paperwork to challenge "the baseless accusation" against him.
"The prince will confront this case at the court," Ok Socheat said.
While in Cambodia, Ranariddh will also work on forming a new party and travel to the countryside to meet supporters still loyal to him, Ok Socheat said.
Funcinpec dumped Ranariddh as its president, saying he was incompetent and too frequently absent from the country. Ranariddh's longtime political rival, Prime Minister Hun Sen — the powerful head of the ruling Cambodian People's Party — had encouraged Ranariddh's ouster.
Funcinpec is the junior partner in Hun Sen's coalition government.
Ranariddh's father, Norodom Sihanouk, the country's retired but still-revered king, founded Funcinpec, which won a U.N.-organized election in 1993.
Funcinpec's new leaders say Ranariddh's sacking is aimed at restoring the party's credibility ahead of upcoming local and national elections in 2007 and 2008.
Prince Norodom Ranariddh — who was deposed as the president of Funcinpec on Oct. 18 — arrived quietly from Malaysia on Saturday, said Ok Socheat, his adviser.
On Friday, Nouv Sovathero, a Funcinpec spokesman, said the party has filed a lawsuit with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against Ranariddh for embezzling some US$3.6 million (€2.8 million) from the party's coffers.
The money came from the sale of party property last August, he said, adding the lawsuit also demanded US$1 million (€777,650) in compensation from Ranariddh on top of the allegedly embezzled funds.
Ok Socheat, Ranariddh's adviser, said the prince has returned to prepare paperwork to challenge "the baseless accusation" against him.
"The prince will confront this case at the court," Ok Socheat said.
While in Cambodia, Ranariddh will also work on forming a new party and travel to the countryside to meet supporters still loyal to him, Ok Socheat said.
Funcinpec dumped Ranariddh as its president, saying he was incompetent and too frequently absent from the country. Ranariddh's longtime political rival, Prime Minister Hun Sen — the powerful head of the ruling Cambodian People's Party — had encouraged Ranariddh's ouster.
Funcinpec is the junior partner in Hun Sen's coalition government.
Ranariddh's father, Norodom Sihanouk, the country's retired but still-revered king, founded Funcinpec, which won a U.N.-organized election in 1993.
Funcinpec's new leaders say Ranariddh's sacking is aimed at restoring the party's credibility ahead of upcoming local and national elections in 2007 and 2008.
7 comments:
How amny people have killed by poison foods from Rannarith for being the witness of New National Assembly corruption. They shoud take this animal for court.
THis animal has made too much sex. Please look at his face, he may not survive for too long for this kind active sex.
How long Ah Krom Pret (Ah kon chau of Nhek Bun Chhay) will be stayed in Cambodia? not more than one week!!
Ah sdech moha pok rolouy, moha chaul m_seat.
Nhek Bun Chhay has courage to put down ah krom Pret, get off ah Chakrapong.
Bravo the power of people!!!
Go down !!! nasty royal family!!!
Now my best prince get up from a long sleep!!! you recognise now that juridiary system is not neutral, but u used to sue Rainsy and other SRP members. you recognise that NEC is not neutral, but u used not to say anything when you were in Assembley presidency. You recognise about obstacle the ruling party want to put to any opponent, but you said nothing before and even hurt others by using your non-sense words. You finally recognise false democracy and false liberty which u have never said. Ok, try your best to swim in this ocean that you yourself have allowed this dictator Hun Sen mount for many years. I don't think it is too late, but I think you might be too exhausted already and especially you used to be a top person born in the name of preah in the country, maybe you can not walk without shoes like real farmers.
this animal is crazy like his father. get lost ass hole!!!!
AH RANNOGOOD do politic since his head full of hair! Now his stupid head is bald and have nothing to show for cause he allowed the Vietcong to cheat him again and again like his father!
It is better for AH RANNOGOOD to go back to the jungle and start his political career all over again!
putho arahaing . i can't do anymore. He is already down.
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