Tuesday, June 09, 2009

SRP attorney sceptical of Bar Association's neutrality

Lawyer Kong Sam Onn speaks to reporters outside the Phnom Penh Municipal Court after a recent defamation suit hearing. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)

Monday, 08 June 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post


Mu Sochua's lawyer, Kong Sam Onn, says association panel is under govt pressure and can't make independent decision.

THE lawyer representing Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua in her defamation suit against Prime Minister Hun Sen said Sunday he had no confidence that a Bar Association panel investigating a complaint against him could reach an independent decision.

Kong Sam Onn appeared for questioning before the panel on Friday. The meeting went ahead as scheduled, despite the fact that only three panelists showed.

Hem Voun had been removed last week after Kong Sam Onn noted that he worked for the same law firm as Hun Sen's lawyer, and Lean Chenda failed to appear on Friday citing health reasons.

Two previous attempts to question Kong Sam Onn regarding claims that he violated the Bar Association's ethics code were unsuccessful. The lawyer could be suspended or disbarred if found guilty of breaking association rules.

Panelist Hem Socheat said Sunday that there was no required number of panelists, adding that the questioning went ahead on Friday because panelists did not want to re-schedule for a fourth time.

Kong Sam Onn said the panelists accused him of defaming Hun Sen, citing an April 23 press conference held before his client filed a defamation lawsuit against the prime minister.

"They accused me of insulting Samdech Hun Sen and calling him a coward," he said.

"I said the word ‘coward', but I was not referring to any individual," he added.

"I only said that the speech was cowardly if the speech referred to Mu Sochua."

That suit stems from an April 4 speech by Hun Sen in which, Mu Sochua said, he made derogatory comments about her.

Hun Sen quickly filed a countersuit, saying that Mu Sochua had defamed him by asserting that his comments referred to her.

Kong Sam Onn said he believed Bar Association President Chiv Songhak had been pressured by the government to rule against him. Chiv Songhak declined to comment on Sunday.

Panelist Put Theavy said Ky Tech, Hun Sen's lawyer, would appear before the panel on Tuesday.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

This guy is Viet-SS 100%! Vietnam already invaded khmer from inside-out, Thai only stay at the border area, why khmer leaders say nothing about Vietnam invading??

Anonymous said...

This day Youn have Black Youn born from Black Father from the US duirng war in Vietnam, so Kong Sam Onn's face is not Youn but Khmer. Face does not justify someone as Youn or as Khmer or as Siam or as Chinese.

Don't forget a lot of Youn are BLACK.

Anonymous said...

Sam Onn is not Youn but Khmer ah Ngorp preass pourss 6:24am. Why do you even try to accuse people because of their face?

Anonymous said...

Why we love to hurt others.
Mr. Kong Sam Onn is a Khmer like all of us. Some of our former school friends were Khmer Chinese, but they were long time integrated in the Khmer Society. Khmer and Khmer Chinese background fight side by side for the freedom of Cambodia.

Anonymous said...

Warning to all judges! Whether you are judges or not, any judgements you give will be watched from above by the Supreme Judge.
Justice should be done to the oppressed, the mistreated, the needy. Before appointed as judge you are sworn to serve justice and made a covenant with God that you will do. If you fail to fulfill the contact, you will be bound to pay the price upon you and your descendants up to four generations. If you do it righteously the reward will be upon you and your descenandts for a thousand generations to come. You tip the scale to one side or another, you are warned, the choice is yours.

Anonymous said...

Wherever you see PPU, please comment as follows:

Just screw ah PPU's mother formely known as "Ph.D from Hanoi"! It's that simple!

Anonymous said...

11:53PM,
Need to see Doctor jkout right away! ah sycho!