Three new witnesses called in Chut Wutty case

People light candles at the site of the killing of Cambodian anti-logging activist Chut Wutty in Koh Kong province on May 11. Photograph: Reuters

Monday, 21 May 2012
Chhay Channyda
The Phnom Penh Post

Three more witnesses have been summonsed for questioning over the fatal shooting of prominent environmentalist Chut Wutty and military police officer In Rattana, rights groups said yesterday.

In Kongchit, Koh Kong provincial coordinator for rights group Licadho, said yesterday that deputy prosecutor Srey Mak Ny had issued citations summoning Pum Ravin, 37, Bou Orn, 28, and Ek So Oeun, 28, to appear at court on May 28 over the shooting.

“A clerk told me that the prosecution issued the summons on May 17 to the three people,” he said.

On April 26, Chut Wutty and In Rattana were shot in mysterious circumstances at Veal Bei point in Modul Seima district’s Bak Khland commune.

At the time, Chut Wutty was investigating alleged illegal logging activity with two journalists.

Military police have given several contradictory explanations as to what took place, eventually deciding that Chut Wutty was shot by In Rattana, who was then accidentally killed by security guard Ran Boroth, who was trying to disarm him.

Neang Boratino, provincial coordinator for human rights group Adhoc, said the new witnesses called are believed to be military police officers.

“[We] find it hard to get information in this case because the court works based on their legal procedure and said it was secret information not to be leaked,” he said.

The court has previously summonsed journalist Phorn Bopha; Kruy Settha, a manager of a logging warehouse owned by Timbergreen – the company licensed to clear a nearby dam site; and military police officers So Sopheap and Prum Sokha.

Srey Mak Ny, Koh Kong provincial deputy prosecutor, could not be reached yesterday.