PHNOM PENH, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- A Thai man who was convicted on espionage charge to seven years in jail in Cambodia was released Monday and he told reporters that he will return home later Monday.
Sivarak Chotipong, 31, was sentenced to seven years in jail and a fine of 10 million riel (about 2,500 U.S. dollars) last week by Phnom Penh Municipal Court, was officially released Monday, three days after he was pardoned by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni.
After receiving document concerning the pardon handed to him by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, Sivarak told reporters that he hoped to return for work in Cambodia again but did not elaborate the time.
Sivarak, who wore nicely-suited jacket, was accompanied by his mother, and a few members of parliament from Pheu Thai Party.
Sivarak was working as an engineer employed by a Thai owned company, Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co. at Phnom Penh International Airport.
Cambodian court charged him for sending information of flight plans of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who made a visit to Cambodia on Nov. 10 -- to Thai government through its embassy in Phnom Penh.
On Sunday, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia for the second time and had met briefly with Sivarak in a prison at Prey Sar, about 15 kilometers south of Phnom Penh.
While he is in Phnom Penh, Thaksin will give lecture again to Cambodian officials on economic issues.
Thaksin posted on his own online Twitter page on Saturday that he is to travel to exchange ideas with leaders of three countries in Asia for seven to eight days.
It remains unclear how many days Thaksin will stay in Cambodia, but one government official said he might stay a few days in Cambodia.
Sivarak's mother has asked Thailand's opposition Pheu Thai Party for help to release her son.
A Cambodian official who asked not to be identified said Thaksin has played a key role in helping Sivarak to be released.
Sivarak Chotipong, 31, was sentenced to seven years in jail and a fine of 10 million riel (about 2,500 U.S. dollars) last week by Phnom Penh Municipal Court, was officially released Monday, three days after he was pardoned by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni.
After receiving document concerning the pardon handed to him by Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, Sivarak told reporters that he hoped to return for work in Cambodia again but did not elaborate the time.
Sivarak, who wore nicely-suited jacket, was accompanied by his mother, and a few members of parliament from Pheu Thai Party.
Sivarak was working as an engineer employed by a Thai owned company, Cambodia Air Traffic Services Co. at Phnom Penh International Airport.
Cambodian court charged him for sending information of flight plans of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who made a visit to Cambodia on Nov. 10 -- to Thai government through its embassy in Phnom Penh.
On Sunday, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia for the second time and had met briefly with Sivarak in a prison at Prey Sar, about 15 kilometers south of Phnom Penh.
While he is in Phnom Penh, Thaksin will give lecture again to Cambodian officials on economic issues.
Thaksin posted on his own online Twitter page on Saturday that he is to travel to exchange ideas with leaders of three countries in Asia for seven to eight days.
It remains unclear how many days Thaksin will stay in Cambodia, but one government official said he might stay a few days in Cambodia.
Sivarak's mother has asked Thailand's opposition Pheu Thai Party for help to release her son.
A Cambodian official who asked not to be identified said Thaksin has played a key role in helping Sivarak to be released.
5 comments:
Thais citizen released, Khmer citizen must stay in jails, that's just the way it is...!
It is just political game played by Hun Sen and Thaksin for each individual benefits. If Hun Sen is a nationalist who go after Khmer Interests, he should release the alleged Thai sply on the condition that all Khmers who are in held in Thai jail be release too. But it's too bad it doesn't work that way as Khmer leaders mentality are not the same as the Thai leaders'.
Most of the poor khmer people, they're just collecting wild mushrooms, wild vegetables along the border trying to make aliving, not all of them are illegally logging..? i think thais soldier took advantaged on these poor people by accusing them illegally logging...?
K.I.D Refugees Camp, i have seen Thais soldier beaten and abused Khmer people inside the camp, those Thais soldier keep saying they are the one,"THE REAL KHMER!" we are not?
Khmer people should armed themselves up against Thais soldier, we had done this during pol pot's time against khmer rouge soldier..i don't see why not?
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