The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Prominent Cambodian politician Prince Norodom Ranariddh on Thursday was granted a pardon for his embezzlement conviction by his half-brother, King Norodom Sihamoni, paving the way for his return from exile.
Ranariddh, who is living in Malaysia, will come home Sunday to resume his political career, said Suth Dina, a spokesman for the party named after the prince.
The king signed a royal decree pardoning "the convicted person named Norodom Ranariddh, who the court has sentenced to 18 months in prison."
In July, a Supreme Court judge upheld a lower court's ruling from last year that found Ranariddh guilty of breach of trust and sentenced him in absentia to 18 months in prison.
The lawsuit was filed by the prince's former colleagues in the royalist Funcinpec party, which he once led.
The court also ordered him to pay US$150,000 in compensation to the party.
The Funcinpec party, which ousted Ranariddh as president in October 2006, sued the prince on a charge of embezzling some US$3.6 million from the sale of the party's headquarters in August that year.
The prince now leads his own Norodom Ranariddh Party, which won two parliamentary seats in this year's general election two months ago.
His party has said the court ruling was politically motivated. He had been living in exile, mostly in Malaysia, long before the court case was initiated against him.
The prince is "happy" about the pardon, Ouk Phalla, Ranariddh's consort, said by phone from Malaysia. She declined to elaborate.
It was not clear what prompted the pardon. But local media have recently reported about behind-the-scenes maneuvering between Prime Minister Hun Sen's government and the prince's party to end Ranariddh's legal trouble.
The two politicians are known for having an on-again, off-again political relationship. They once served as co-prime ministers until Hun Sen staged a coup to unseat his rival.
When Ranariddh was still the leader of Funcinpec, Hun Sen encouraged the royalist party's followers to get rid of the prince for his weak leadership.
Ranariddh fired back, accusing Hun Sen of poking his nose in his business.
The prince and King Sihamoni are sons of former king Norodom Sihanouk.
In a letter to Sihamoni on Thursday, Ranariddh thanked the king for granting him the royal pardon "following intervention" from Hun Sen.
The prince, in a separate letter, also offered "warm congratulations" to his Hun Sen after the country's parliament endorsed him as the prime minister for another five years.
Ranariddh, who is living in Malaysia, will come home Sunday to resume his political career, said Suth Dina, a spokesman for the party named after the prince.
The king signed a royal decree pardoning "the convicted person named Norodom Ranariddh, who the court has sentenced to 18 months in prison."
In July, a Supreme Court judge upheld a lower court's ruling from last year that found Ranariddh guilty of breach of trust and sentenced him in absentia to 18 months in prison.
The lawsuit was filed by the prince's former colleagues in the royalist Funcinpec party, which he once led.
The court also ordered him to pay US$150,000 in compensation to the party.
The Funcinpec party, which ousted Ranariddh as president in October 2006, sued the prince on a charge of embezzling some US$3.6 million from the sale of the party's headquarters in August that year.
The prince now leads his own Norodom Ranariddh Party, which won two parliamentary seats in this year's general election two months ago.
His party has said the court ruling was politically motivated. He had been living in exile, mostly in Malaysia, long before the court case was initiated against him.
The prince is "happy" about the pardon, Ouk Phalla, Ranariddh's consort, said by phone from Malaysia. She declined to elaborate.
It was not clear what prompted the pardon. But local media have recently reported about behind-the-scenes maneuvering between Prime Minister Hun Sen's government and the prince's party to end Ranariddh's legal trouble.
The two politicians are known for having an on-again, off-again political relationship. They once served as co-prime ministers until Hun Sen staged a coup to unseat his rival.
When Ranariddh was still the leader of Funcinpec, Hun Sen encouraged the royalist party's followers to get rid of the prince for his weak leadership.
Ranariddh fired back, accusing Hun Sen of poking his nose in his business.
The prince and King Sihamoni are sons of former king Norodom Sihanouk.
In a letter to Sihamoni on Thursday, Ranariddh thanked the king for granting him the royal pardon "following intervention" from Hun Sen.
The prince, in a separate letter, also offered "warm congratulations" to his Hun Sen after the country's parliament endorsed him as the prime minister for another five years.
13 comments:
LOL, Emperor Hun Sen? Good one. Yeah he might as well be one since our King is weaker than him.
It's sad to see how the un-informed Khmer folks still support this leader Ranaridd after all the shits he had done. You can't find that in the US.
Congratulation RANARITH. Now, it's time to revenge against NHEK BUN CHHAY and make him pay the price for toppling you.
Oh Khmer's leaders, the same attitude repeat back and forth. When are they going to move forward. We don't want Ranariddh. He is not example or most of those Khmer's leaders are not representing any model at all.
Khmer PP,
perhaps, this is a good sign of all things to come; unity of all khmer people for the sake of national interest and development so cambodia can all live better like the rest of the world. god bless cambodia.
TOLD U GUYS SIHAKMINI THE COWSHIT KING WILL TAKE ORDER FROM HUN SEN ANY MINUTES IF HUN SEN SAYS GO AND EAT SHIT THIS BALD HEAD WILL DO IT>>>>HAHA! AH TING MONG! WHAT THE USE FOR? FOR CAMBODIA...this king is HUN SEN'S TOILET TISSUE!
CAMBODIA'S KING SHOULD BE REPLACED BY CHINA MADE ROBOT. WHY SHOULD CAMBODIA STILL KEEPING MONARCHY AS A CLOWN??? MR. THE KING. YOU SHOULD THINK OF THING THAT CAN HELP POOR PEOPLE FOR LONG TERM. NOT JUST SPEND $$ ON GAS FOR A TROUPE OF LANDCRUISER EACH TIME YOU DECIDE TO GIVE AWAY SOME RICE BACK TO INNOCENT PEOPLE.
AND STOP ACTING LIFE PD.... ACT LIKE A MAN.
HUN SEN SAID HE CAN NOT BE KING. BUT HE CAN MAKE A KING. IF I'M THE KING OF TODAY...I WILL OFFER HUN SEN TO BE KING...AS HE'S ALWAYS ACTED AS EMPEROR....AND DREAM TO TASTE THIS LAST TITLE...
LONG LIFE TO SDACH ACHHHHHHHHHHHHH
That is smart thinking Hun Xen. you caved in with Rainsy a little bit for your succeeded, and now time to bring your DOG Ranariddh back to bark at him and might bite him death this time.
...You will be forever King Hun Sen...mmm...mmm..I mean forever PM.
AH HUN XEN said to King Sihamoni: Oh! Your majesty do as I said but don't do what I do!
And what is wrong with that?
I love my motherland, but...not her people. Forgive me for I fed up with the Khmer's pragmatism which clouded with power and greed, and lacks of nationalism.
To 9:22AM
Well! If AH HUN XEN said give the Cambodian land to the Thailand and Vietnam and Cambodian King Sihamoni will do what AH HUN XEN said! If AH HUN XEN said King Sihamoni goes kill his half-brother and the King would do it! If AH HUN XEN said go lick his ball and kiss his arse and the King would do it!
Shaking my head!
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