LEGAL-EYED: Kao Soupha29/11/2009
Anucha Charoenpo
Bangkok Post
Kao Soupha is a lawyer who is well used to government pressure.
The 37-year-old Cambodian believes that if a lawyer is afraid of the state, then many innocent people will have no chance to defend themselves.
For this reason he decided to represent jailed Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong.
Mr Sivarak, 31, an employee of Thai-owned Cambodia Air Traffic Services, was arrested on Nov 12 on charges of leaking information concerning the flight plan of Thaksin Shinawatra as he travelled to Cambodia.
Mr Sivarak is being held at Prey Sar prison, pending a bail consideration and first hearing on Dec 8.
"I see he [Mr Sivarak] has a good chance of being freed as I believe he did not really steal the flight records," Mr Soupha said.
Mr Soupha admits his client was in a position to know of all the flights in an out of Cambodia but that Thaksin's flight plan was not a secretive matter.
Had Mr Sivarak "spied", he would not have left Cambodia and travelled to Laos on Nov 6 and returned to Cambodia on Nov 9, says Mr Soupha.
He acknowledged the arrest of Mr Sivarak was a headlining issue between the two countries, but it was not a complicated case because as far as he knew there was not much evidence supporting the plaintiff side.
Mr Soupha also believes the arrest of Mr Sivarak was politically motivated and the case should be resolved by the two governments.
"They are playing a game and Mr Sivarak is, unfortunately, in the middle," he said.
According to Cambodian law, if Mr Sivarak is found guilty of spying he faces a jail term of between seven and 15 years.
Mr Soupha specialises in providing legal counselling for Cambodian and foreign people. Most of his cases are concerned with human rights violations and alleged unfair treatment by the Cambodian government.
He often deals with the Thai community in Phnom Penh and is regularly contacted by the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
The 37-year-old Cambodian believes that if a lawyer is afraid of the state, then many innocent people will have no chance to defend themselves.
For this reason he decided to represent jailed Thai engineer Sivarak Chutipong.
Mr Sivarak, 31, an employee of Thai-owned Cambodia Air Traffic Services, was arrested on Nov 12 on charges of leaking information concerning the flight plan of Thaksin Shinawatra as he travelled to Cambodia.
Mr Sivarak is being held at Prey Sar prison, pending a bail consideration and first hearing on Dec 8.
"I see he [Mr Sivarak] has a good chance of being freed as I believe he did not really steal the flight records," Mr Soupha said.
Mr Soupha admits his client was in a position to know of all the flights in an out of Cambodia but that Thaksin's flight plan was not a secretive matter.
Had Mr Sivarak "spied", he would not have left Cambodia and travelled to Laos on Nov 6 and returned to Cambodia on Nov 9, says Mr Soupha.
He acknowledged the arrest of Mr Sivarak was a headlining issue between the two countries, but it was not a complicated case because as far as he knew there was not much evidence supporting the plaintiff side.
Mr Soupha also believes the arrest of Mr Sivarak was politically motivated and the case should be resolved by the two governments.
"They are playing a game and Mr Sivarak is, unfortunately, in the middle," he said.
According to Cambodian law, if Mr Sivarak is found guilty of spying he faces a jail term of between seven and 15 years.
Mr Soupha specialises in providing legal counselling for Cambodian and foreign people. Most of his cases are concerned with human rights violations and alleged unfair treatment by the Cambodian government.
He often deals with the Thai community in Phnom Penh and is regularly contacted by the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh.
14 comments:
Excellent! Kao Soupha...you are my type of guy. Cambodia needs lawyers who have this kind of stupa!
2:39 PM,
I totally agree with you.
Cambodia needs independent lawyers who are not afraid to speak out.
2:45PM,
All Khmer professional in Cambodia MUST learn from this gentleman! Good...that you and I can productively share the same view...Take care.
I'm not sure he 100% pure independent at all. He might goverment spy.
Keep an eyes on Def.Lawyer CAO SOUPHA...hopefully he's not on Thai Embassy's payroll...?
Good Luck
In North America: Lawyer is a crook, Politicians Flip Flop...?
What ?
Nobody needs lawyer in Cambodia.
Cambodians need money.
Cambodian legal system is a government tool.
It is used to punish opposition and that is all.
We should understand that is dictatorship.
Look at the background of this photo. It is in one of many Karaokay clubs in Phnom Penh. I am sure of that because I have been to lots of them and saw many girls lose their viginity in there. How come this guy chose to launch his campaign against Hun Sen government from that place. He is just one of the crooks who wants be seen as clean.
មនុស្សមុខយួននេះ កំពុងឃោសនា
រកមុខអ្នកប្រឆាំងនឹងអ្នកមានអំណាច
ន្អាលនឹងក្របួចយកទៅព្រៃស ។
Well where was he when Madam Mu need lawyer? She went to court without a lawyer present because they all weak and scare and yet this lawyer say he want to be independent representing the thai. bullshit! He is not brave enough also.
That what I want to say why he did not approach himself to Madam Mu Sokhuor??? She really need an attorney in her case against Hun Sen...She is now face a serious injustice ...what do you think Kao Soupha?
His real name is Thanh cac Lu^ Tu^y va..! Do Ma Mai Boo KaK Tao..!
Hi Mr. Soupha,
If you are couragous and really wishes to help innocents, you better not to defense that Thai accused. Why don't you defense our Cambodian innocents who are unjust jailed by the current courts?
Do you have Khmer braon in your head?
I am sure you are Cambodian, not Thai, but your brain is not nationalist, but moneyist???
Hean Padhi
Ah mot duch kdet mon..! do ma mai..!
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