Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Bavet governor did it, shooting victim says

Chhouk Bandit
Tuesday, 10 April 2012
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

One of three women shot during a protest outside the Kaoway Sports factory in Svay Rieng province’s Bavet town on February 20 accused deposed town governor Chhouk Bandith of the crime yesterday, but told a judge she hadn’t been sure until seeing a media report about the case.

Appearing in the provincial court yesterday, Nuth Sakhorn, 23, said she had lost consciousness after being shot during the 6,000-worker protest at the factory, which supplies global sports brand PUMA.

“I told the judge that I knew it was Chhouk Bandith who shot the three of us following a media report,” she said. “At the time, we were all unconscious.”


Nuth Sakhorn said she was seeking compensation from the former Bavet governor, who allegedly confessed in the provincial court last month to shooting her, Buot Chinda, 21, and Keo Near, 18, but walked free.

I ask compensation from Chhouk Bandith of US$45,000 – and I want the court to sentence him according to the law,” she said.

Nuth Sakhorn told the Post that she feared for her safety after making her statement to the court and returning home yesterday.

Hing Bun Chea, Svay Rieng chief prosecutor, said he had questioned all three workers who had filed complaints claiming former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith had shot them.

I will be checking more documents before deciding whether to charge Chhouk Bandith. I will let you know [the outcome] later,” he said.

Moeun Tola, head of the labour programme at the Community Legal Education Centre, said the provincial court seemed unwilling to issue an arrest warrant even though the Ministry of Interior had announced Chhouk Bandith as the suspected shooter.

“We should know who he is,” Moeun Tola said. “He is just the district governor. The court, however, seems afraid of this man, because he has a lot of high-level officers and tycoons backing him.”

On March 7, Bavet town officials allegedly attempted to buy the silence of all three victims, offering between $500 and $1,000 for them not to press charges.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bring this monster Chhouk Bandit Leukeu to face justice.

Stop being a crook government.

Anonymous said...

The uneducated man always used
power and money.

But right now,Khmer people are rising up against what the CPP
govt or officials are treating
them.

Time has been changed,but the greedy power and money men never changed on time.
So,they will be dead like other
dictators in other countries.

Anonymous said...

In other countries the government through its police would investigate the crime scene and bring charge again the criminal.
But it Cambodia, the victim must proof the crime. If she had died, who would the government asked?

Anonymous said...

When will this dirty and stupid animal Chhouk Bandit be arrested and put in the cage?