The Supreme Court summons Mrs. Mu Sochua

13 May 2010
By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Phnom Penh – The Supreme Court will hold a hearing at the beginning of next month in opposition MP Mu Sochua’s involvement in the defamation lawsuit case by Hun Xen. Mrs. Mu Sochua has very slim hope that the tribunal will ever provide justice for her in this last step of this lawsuit.

According to the summons issued last week by Chhuon Chantha, the deputy prosecutor of the Supreme Court, it indicated that the Supreme Court will hold a hearing in the defamation lawsuit opposing opposition MP Mu Sochua to Hun Xen. The hearing will be held on 02 June.

This is the 2nd summons issued by the court, after the first one which was set on 07 April was delayed following the request made by Mrs. Mu Sochua as she was held outside the country during her mission.

Mrs. Mu Sochua said on Thursday that she just received the summons on Wednesday, and she claimed that she will show up in court on the day of the hearing.

Mrs. Mu Sochua said that the Supreme Court will provide justice for her. “I hope that the Supreme Court will reflect and take all the evidences into consideration to try this case. I have all the evidences, the court should consider and reflect on all these factors and all the evidences in order to provide a fair trial.”

Ky Tech, the government lawyer, said that this is the 2nd summons for Mrs. Mu Sochua, she can no longer avoid it, and the two parties will show up in front of the court.

“As for me, I believe that I have all the proofs. I hope that on that day, the Supreme Court will surely make the same decision as the lower courts.”

On 04 September 2009, the Phnom Penh municipal court ordered Mrs. Mu Sochua to pay a fine of 16.5 million riels ($4,125) after she was found guilty of defaming Hun Xen.

Ky Tech, the government lawyer, sued Mrs. Mu Sochua for defaming Hun Xen after she held a press conference on 23 April 2009. During the press conference, Mrs. Mu Sochua accused Hun Xen of looking down and affecting the honor of all Cambodian women.

On 04 April 2009, at Ta Ken commune, Kampot province, Hun Xen criticized a Cambodian opposition woman without naming her directly, saying: “In Kampot, there is a “Cheung Khlang” (lit. strong woman, i.e. thug) woman whom I need not reveal her name. About her strength, what she is strong at is about creating problems, inciting to create problem, even for the election campaign, she went to hug someone and she said that that person unbuttoned her blouse. She went to whine and sue, she is strong [at that]. This is what you call the thick face opposition, you hack them with a cleaver 20 or 100 times, and it wouldn’t cut them, whether they are men or women. However their chief is, the subordinates are the same.”

Mrs. Mu Sochua sent a complaint to the Phnom Penh municipal court through Kong Sam On, her lawyer, accusing Hun Xen of defaming her. However, the Phnom Penh municipal court dropped her lawsuit claiming that there was no sufficient proof.

On his part, Kong Sam On, Mrs. Mu Sochua’s defense lawyer, decided to drop her defense after he was sued by the government lawyer for violating his professional ethics.

Up to now, Mrs. Mu Sochua still does not have a defense lawyer because no lawyer agrees to defend her in this sensitive lawsuit case.