Former Cambodian police chief Heng Pov is seen in a Phnom Penh military court (Photo: Reuters)Thu Dec 21, 2006
By Ek Madra
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A fugitive Cambodian former police chief sentenced to 18 years jail for murdering a judge was deported from Malaysia on Thursday even though he had been given a visa to Finland on human rights grounds.
The one-legged Heng Pov, who fled in July to Singapore and then Malaysia after being sacked as Phnom Penh police chief, was handed over to Cambodian officials in Kuala Lumpur before being taken home on a special flight.
"The Malaysian courts decided to deport him back to Cambodia," deputy national police Sok Phal said.
Heng Pov's wife and lawyer criticised the deportation, telling reporters in Kuala Lumpur that the process was flawed and violated human rights.
"They didn't even allow me to talk to my husband. They just took him away," said the wife, Ngin Sotheaby.
"This is not respecting his human rights. Why is the Malaysian government doing this?" the 38-year-old said after lodging a police report to complain about the expulsion.
His Malaysian lawyer, N. Sivananthan, said the deportation was done without due legal process.
"We are disappointed with what has happened. This is going to have repercussions for Malaysia internationally ... it's a very sad day," he said.
On his return to Phnom Penh's military airport, Heng Pov was whisked away in a police convoy straight to court. More than 100 riot officers equipped with tear gas and rifles sealed off the street outside the building.
Finland said it issued a visa to Heng Pov. The visa was given because human rights groups were concerned about his conviction in absentia for the 2003 murder of judge Sok Sethamony.
"The visa was issued, it was activated in Kuala Lumpur, so he had all the documents needed for a flight to Finland," Foreign Ministry spokesman Petri Tuomi-Nikula said in Helsinki.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong attacked the Finnish decision, saying it had weakened international efforts to fight crime and accused Helsinki of being taken in by Heng Pov's "fabricated claims".
In 2004, Helsinki granted asylum to Sok Yoeun, a Cambodian opposition party member accused of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Hun Sen in a rocket attack on his convoy six years previously.
Sok Yoeun fled to Thailand, where he spent almost five years in prison, before being allowed to go to Finland.
Heng Pov's Malaysian lawyer had said his client faced torture or even death if he were sent home.
Heng Pov's wife said she would return home within the next few days. "The only thing I want to do now is to be with my husband in Cambodia."
(Additional reporting by Niluksi Koswanage in Kuala Lumpur)
The one-legged Heng Pov, who fled in July to Singapore and then Malaysia after being sacked as Phnom Penh police chief, was handed over to Cambodian officials in Kuala Lumpur before being taken home on a special flight.
"The Malaysian courts decided to deport him back to Cambodia," deputy national police Sok Phal said.
Heng Pov's wife and lawyer criticised the deportation, telling reporters in Kuala Lumpur that the process was flawed and violated human rights.
"They didn't even allow me to talk to my husband. They just took him away," said the wife, Ngin Sotheaby.
"This is not respecting his human rights. Why is the Malaysian government doing this?" the 38-year-old said after lodging a police report to complain about the expulsion.
His Malaysian lawyer, N. Sivananthan, said the deportation was done without due legal process.
"We are disappointed with what has happened. This is going to have repercussions for Malaysia internationally ... it's a very sad day," he said.
On his return to Phnom Penh's military airport, Heng Pov was whisked away in a police convoy straight to court. More than 100 riot officers equipped with tear gas and rifles sealed off the street outside the building.
Finland said it issued a visa to Heng Pov. The visa was given because human rights groups were concerned about his conviction in absentia for the 2003 murder of judge Sok Sethamony.
"The visa was issued, it was activated in Kuala Lumpur, so he had all the documents needed for a flight to Finland," Foreign Ministry spokesman Petri Tuomi-Nikula said in Helsinki.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong attacked the Finnish decision, saying it had weakened international efforts to fight crime and accused Helsinki of being taken in by Heng Pov's "fabricated claims".
In 2004, Helsinki granted asylum to Sok Yoeun, a Cambodian opposition party member accused of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Hun Sen in a rocket attack on his convoy six years previously.
Sok Yoeun fled to Thailand, where he spent almost five years in prison, before being allowed to go to Finland.
Heng Pov's Malaysian lawyer had said his client faced torture or even death if he were sent home.
Heng Pov's wife said she would return home within the next few days. "The only thing I want to do now is to be with my husband in Cambodia."
(Additional reporting by Niluksi Koswanage in Kuala Lumpur)
13 comments:
Malaysia has joined the circle of the Cambodian criminal gov't. It's my mistake to believe in Malaysia court system. Despite the Finland gov't issued visa for him due to human rights issue, still Malaysia court of appeal rushed to deport him to Cambodia. Isn't that seem to be something behind the scene?
Will A dog Kvak, A Hok Lang Yuon be arrested and sent to jail?
If no, there is no justice in this world. It's unfair for Heng Pov.
Now Malaysia is also corruted society and is joining hand with A dog Kvak to threngthen their Mafia society in the region.
International law influenced by arnachy. Every country takes a matter on its own hand to handle and balance its own interests over human rights matter. Justice cannot be served because the international system lacks of central authority.
You should know that these country stick up for one another... Maylasia is a Muslim country, now Hun sen-Hok Lundy owes one to the Muslim commnunity.. And I maybe wrong isn't Marie Ranirith (the clown prince so-call ex-wife) a Muslim herself? Didn't Hun sen appointed her to some high office position?
Either that, Money can buy life and death...
Malaysia has sold its credibility to the world that money and politics are more important that human rights and criminal Cambodian gov't. Remember Malaysia is the country support the system of injustice and we ought to hold it responsible for perpetuating these kind of behavior in ASEAN. You are no leadership Malaysia!
We all see already how ASEAN leaders used to be and are. Counting from Burma till Philippines, they are dictator exept Philippines. It is a tight link of strong men. Even in Indonesia, one of my indonesian friends says Souharto's influence on the current leaders cannot be demolished.
Who believe Malaysian must be very disappointed.
Maylasia is a joke. The lower court overrule their supreme court? What kind of backward system is that?
I told you all a week ago. DO NOT BEG ON MALAYIA COURT SYSYEM. WHY MALAYIA'S FORMER PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR HAD JAILED HIS FORMER DPM IN JAIL EASILY? SINGAPORE THE BEST ONE, SECOND IS THAILAND and PHILIPPINE AMONG ASIAN.
I have never trusted to Malaysian court System. They are all Banana. They have jailed their former DPM for nothing!!!!
Sad day for Heng Peo ... another voice will be silent.
500 riel toilet, Marie is NOT MUSLIM. My grandfather knows her father, that's just a rumor, sure she has help the Chams a lot, but she is not Muslim, her Dad was a well man representative for Tani Touk Meas, Kampot.
7.29am
Thank you..nothing against her or Muslim. Don't know much about her, she should however take him for everything... community property.
Until they invent a word to describe this clown prince... I have nothing to say.
Oh boy, oh boy... That was close!
My staff and I were in the state of uncertainty in the last 5 months or so. I am not sure what would be the outcome of this fugitive's escape to Finland. Any way we got the bastard! Good job everyone.
Hok Lundy, how much did you pay for Heng Pov's deportation? I, as the Prime Minister of Cambodia, would like to appeal to all Okhna to compensate Hok Lundy because he went to Hong Kong in a covet operation to withdraw some funds from his $84 million account to pay for this deportation. Please give generously.
From the Office of
Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister of Cambodia
(Since 1984-Current)
Protecting Khmer interests through Cyberspace. As you know I can not protect Khmer interests in Cambodia because i have one eye and there are too many Vietcongs, I might loss my prime ministership, if you know what I mean?
OH!!! ALMIGHTY GOD THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, PLEASE GIVE CAMBODIA AND GOOD KHMERS PEOPLE JUSTICE AND FREE FROM THE BONDAGE OF YUONS, VIETMINH, CPP HUN SEN, HOR NAM HOANG, SOK AN, HOK LUNDY etc.....SOON.
HENG POV WAS ONCE BAD, BUT HE CONFESSED, NOW HIS SINS SHOULD BE FORGIVEN LORD.
HE WILL BE THE KEY STAR WITNESS TO RESCUE CAMBODIA FROM DAILY MISERIES, HWY THOU FORSAKEN HIM TO THE DEVIL'S OF THE ROYAL CAMBODIAN CROOKS GOVERNMENT IN CAMBODIA.
WHY CAN'T WE ALL KHMER ANGKORS AND KHMER PHNOM PENH FORM A KHMER REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT IN EXILE LIKE KHMER KAMPUCHEA KROM TO HELP, TO SOLVE, TO RESCUE CAMBODIA FROM YUONS ANNEXATION?
BROTHER AND SISTER KHMERS LET'S BE UNITED AND STANDING UP TOGETHER AND MAKE PEOPLE POWER IN CAMBODIA TO CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT OF HUN SEN. THE NEW GOVENMENT MUST MAKE SURE THAT NOT FOLLOWING HUN SEN FOOT STEP BY SELLING CAMBODIA TO YUON'S COUNTRY.
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