Prince Norodom Ranariddh during a press conference in Phnom Penh, November 2006. A Cambodian court has charged ousted royalist leader with adultery over his affair with a classical dancer, according to a court official.(AFP/File/Chhin Sothy) PHNOM PENH (AFP) - A Cambodian court has charged ousted royalist leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh with adultery over his affair with a classical dancer, a court official said Sunday.
Ranariddh -- who is currently in Europe and was on Tuesday sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail for fraud over a land deal -- could face up to one year in prison if found guilty under Cambodia's new monogamy laws.
The charge follows a complaint filed in December by his estranged wife, Princess Norodom Marie Ranariddh.
Sok Kalyan, deputy prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said the charge was issued in January, but was only made public on Friday, the first day of campaigning for upcoming local administrative elections.
"It is true that I charged Prince Norodom Ranariddh with adultery, and I think it is fair because the accused had a relationship with a new partner," said Sok Kalyan.
He said the court would invite both Princess Marie and Ranariddh to court once the investigation was complete. No date for the hearing has yet been set.
The prince, 63, has publicly acknowledged his relationship with a classical dancer, with whom he has a three-year-old son.
Cambodia in September passed a monogamy law which punishes unfaithful spouses and bans polygamy and incest. Perpetrators face between a month and a year in prison, plus a fine of up to 205 dollars.
Ranariddh's defence lawyer Liv Sovanna labelled the charge "a great injustice", but admitted that he had little hope that they could win the case, accusing the courts of bias.
Ranariddh, who was sacked as leader of the Funcinpec party in October, was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months in jail and ordered to pay 150,000 dollars to Funcinpec over the illegal sale of his former political party's headquarters.
The charges against the prince are at the heart of a battle with his former political allies for royalist support ahead of local elections next month and national polls in 2008, which are likely to see royalist influence in the government plummet.
Ouk Socheat, the prince's information adviser, said Ranariddh was currently in Belgium.
He did not say when Ranariddh would return to Cambodia, but told AFP that members of the prince's newly-established Norodom Ranariddh Party would issue a petition requesting a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni.
Ranariddh -- who is currently in Europe and was on Tuesday sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail for fraud over a land deal -- could face up to one year in prison if found guilty under Cambodia's new monogamy laws.
The charge follows a complaint filed in December by his estranged wife, Princess Norodom Marie Ranariddh.
Sok Kalyan, deputy prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said the charge was issued in January, but was only made public on Friday, the first day of campaigning for upcoming local administrative elections.
"It is true that I charged Prince Norodom Ranariddh with adultery, and I think it is fair because the accused had a relationship with a new partner," said Sok Kalyan.
He said the court would invite both Princess Marie and Ranariddh to court once the investigation was complete. No date for the hearing has yet been set.
The prince, 63, has publicly acknowledged his relationship with a classical dancer, with whom he has a three-year-old son.
Cambodia in September passed a monogamy law which punishes unfaithful spouses and bans polygamy and incest. Perpetrators face between a month and a year in prison, plus a fine of up to 205 dollars.
Ranariddh's defence lawyer Liv Sovanna labelled the charge "a great injustice", but admitted that he had little hope that they could win the case, accusing the courts of bias.
Ranariddh, who was sacked as leader of the Funcinpec party in October, was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months in jail and ordered to pay 150,000 dollars to Funcinpec over the illegal sale of his former political party's headquarters.
The charges against the prince are at the heart of a battle with his former political allies for royalist support ahead of local elections next month and national polls in 2008, which are likely to see royalist influence in the government plummet.
Ouk Socheat, the prince's information adviser, said Ranariddh was currently in Belgium.
He did not say when Ranariddh would return to Cambodia, but told AFP that members of the prince's newly-established Norodom Ranariddh Party would issue a petition requesting a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni.
18 comments:
You are famous!!!!
Why singleout the prince for prosecution? while some CPP members have some mistresses too.
King-Father Norodom Sihanouk along with His cosy Second Monarchy was threatened to be buldozed into the Chaktomukh River many times over by Hun Sen. No-one {Ranariddh, Thomico, Sam Rainsy, Kem Sokha, Lao Mong Hay, Mam Sonando, Nhiek Bunchhay, Thun Saray, Koul Panha, Dr. Pung Chhiv Kek, Ms Chea Vannath, Theary C Seng, etc...} seemed to care to take legal action against Hun Sen's contempt blatantly throwned at the King, the monarchy, the constitution and the Cambodian people as a whole. Why did you guys not take Hun Sen to the court for that uncivilized, inhumane and unlawful act? What did you spare him for? For the sake that stupid idea of national reconciliation? Has Hun Sen, a hardline and ruthless communist cadre, really contemplated for one moment to implement that concept of national reconciliation? If you think he has, you deserve to be throwned into the Chaktomukh River as well. People living in abject poverty in Cambodia's rural countryside and people living in total despair in Phnom Penh and other cities across the country look at you for help and for hope. But you did virtually nothing to help them let alone give them hope. You guys missed the point. How can such a venimous snake as Hun Sen reconcile with decent people? NO WAY!!!
Very amusing!
You seem to forget that Sihanouk Just renewed his wish for Samdach Hun Sen to rule the country another 100 years.
Re: 2:25AM
In plain and simple English, because It's time for the monarchy to go if you want an opinion from a simple Khmer-American citizen like myself. Cambodia and Khmer people have suffered enough. Khmer Monarchy is a lost cause for Cambodia and for Khmer people! Let Khmer people concentrate on dealing with the Viet and Hun sen and his cronies differently without the Monarchy in their way!
if this so-called PhD from France known as Runarith can't handle a pagoda's thug like Hun Sen...well, let him run moaning and groaning tail between his legs. And please don't feel sorry for this sore loser RUN-A-RITH!
[Un mot de ma part Rannarith: t'es un vaut-rien. Heureusement, Hun Sen te laisse vivre alors.]
To 2:57AM
Not many people seem to care about King-Father Norodom Sihanouk let alone his flattering wish for Hun Sen. That wish was unreal. But if you think that it's real and coming from the bottom of Sihanouk's heart, you should also think that it is unrealistic for such a ruthless dictator as Hun Sen to dream to rule over Cambodia for another 100 years. Look at Ferdinand Marcos, Suharto, Slobodan Milosevic and very recently Saddam Hussein. They suffer the same fate and so will Hun Sen. NGO leaders in Cambodia, democracy activists and politicians alike must realize that the overwhelming majority of the Cambodian people are about to be fed up with lip service, empty promise, humbug and hypocrisy from their part. Today they claim to have fought with Hun Sen in the field of deforestation, misappropriation of State properties, corruption, abuse of human rights, land grabbing, politically motivated killings, etc... just to cooperate with the tyrant tomoorow. Support from the ordinary people is as ready as it has always been, but they need a true leader who can lead them in a real struggle to salvage Cambodia and their fellow countrymen from the iron grip of the CPP and Hun Sen. PEOPLE DO NOT NEED A DEMAGOGUE NOR DO THEY NEED A HYPOCRITE!!!
that's right, get those monarchies out of cambodia, i hate those monarch, not just the son, but ah sihanouk too, what a stupid king, why the fuck are you at china instead of your country, afraid someone might poisin you because of your sins that you done to cambodian people. enough already get out of the country, it's no longer your country
Looking at their writing style and the way they express their concerns, 2:25AM and 4:11AM are the same guy. Whoever you are, we unreservedly support your argument.
Ranarith, please back and accept you jail term, doesn't matter if the court is shonky or not, because you had been using it on others for ten years. your turn now.
don't cry idiot prince.
Hi guys,
By far, I think the comments you've made in this issue are very pro-active. I admired such great thoughts like yours.
This law should have been named:
Anti-Rannariddh Polygamy Act (2006).
It would have stopped lawyers and scholars from academic bickerings. All the CPP sex molesters like Khieu Kanharith, Hok Lundi, Hun Sen, minus the shrinking Heng Samrin and Chea Sim, would jump free from their beds naked.
Congratulation 2nd law suit of Preass Ang RUN ROT (Dr. en Lap Doir),
1st To Run Rith and Moheaassara, Later on please consider with others Case there are still many guys to be sentenced....
If Mohessara jump again he will get the same fade as Krom Preass...
Run Rot and Mokvessara Chakropong are much more Dirty than others are
They are dependent on what thay from Royal Family who hold immunity... please take measues with those both first...
Both are the same so Dirty..
eat every thing...
Others ahve also have 2nd third ladies but they cam mange them quietly, For Dr. es Poli-Business Run Rot and MOKVESSAR poorly manged their whores...
Cheyyo GRAET KAIRS Run Rot.!!
Cheyyo Hooligan Mokvessara!!
Finally SHIT PARDON are expected to be offered to BOTH....
Cheyyo, Cheyyo
1 ha 3 tons
MoKvessar Chakropong has no choice, just jump/barks to support his Borther because he has no more choice, he tried many times to look for positions/ in other parties.. but negative result.. no one needs this SHIT any more this is useless worst than animal shit which can be used as fertilizer....
Those two shits have bvery poor/bad history....
Srey Sra Bear...
Acha Knoy
I feel terribly sorry for people who use foul language in either this blog or other blogs for 3 reasons:
(1) They cannot hide their partiality, their uncivilized manner and their ignorance,
(2) They discourage a fair debate on important issues,
(3) Therefore, they may serve the interests of our enemies by obstructing a smooth flow of good ideas.
How people cn obtain benefit gained from those Samdach Krom Preass and Mokvessara after 2 decades of their playing in Cambodia politics...
They should retire....
Cheyyo
1 ha 3 tons
Now Ranarith says Court is unfair why our Great King Sihanouk wishes to sue again Newspapers using PP Court like this??
I do not understand!!
YOP TVA-O MACH
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