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| Sam Rainsy. He was then charged with publishing a false map and with disinformation. (Photo: VOA Khmer) |
Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
The Cambodian Court of Appeals on Tuesday reduced by three years the prison sentence for exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy on criminal charges of disinformation.
Sam Rainsy was facing a 10-year sentence for allegedly publishing a map of the border with Vietnam in 2009 that the government said was fraudulent.
Sam Rainsy has said that Cambodia is losing land to Vietnamese encroachment, a politically sensitive claim the government denies. He had offered as proof a map on his party’s website a map he said showed border encroachment in 2009. He was then charged with publishing a false map and with disinformation.
The opposition leader is also facing a two years sentence for destruction of property and racial incitement for uprooting markers on the Vietnamese border in Svay Rieng province in 2009, a related incident.
The charges have kept him away from the country, even as it moves towards local elections next year and national elections the year after.
Appeals Court judge Chhun Leang Meng said the new sentence reflected punishment outlined in a recently passed penal code. He issued a fine of 3 million riel, about $715, and ordered compensation to the Cambodian government of 60 million riel, about $14,300.
Sam Rainsy’s defense lawyer was not present at court on Tuesday, but he was appointed representation by the Cambodian Bar Association. The attorney, Reach Hok Seng, declined interviews after the hearing.
Government lawyer Ky Tech called the decision “fair” and said the administration would not appeal it, noting that the court had followed the new penal code rather than the Untac code previously used by the judiciary.
Sam Rainsy could not immediately be reached for comment, but Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the opposition party, said the party “does not care about the courts in Cambodia.”
He called Sam Rainsy a “patriot” for defending Cambodia’s borders and said there would be no appeal to the Supreme Court.
5 comments:
In Thailand, their King always scolded the faulty government and pardoned the oppressed.
7:41 AM
Wrong. You are so ignorant about Thai King and his royal family.
He is the world richest monarchy with 35 Billion US dollars. He has never scolded the yellow shirts, his supporters, but he always found faults with Red shirts (the poor people).
I am really sick when I heard about Sam Rainsy is talking about legal action against Hun Sen in overseas Courts, but it cannot do anything to Hun Sen at all and what he has said that he will come to Cambodia before the election is also a liar.
Khmer in Sweden, Vitor Pang
Please don't pay any attention to this decision of a politically motivated court run from Hanoi.
Sam Rainsy, just do what you have to do to salvage our beloved Cambodia's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
Thank you.
Khmer in Sweden, if you really sick and tired listen to Sam Rainsy talking why don't you ignore him. Nobody force you to listen to him and he's a politician. Why don't you listen to your PM Saddam Hun Sen. I think you get narrow mind Mr. Khmer in Sweden.
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