Bar targets lawyer’s protest [-Double travesty of justice in the Kingdoom of Extraordinary Wonder?]

Sam Rainsy Party lawyer Choung Choungy lights insense after having his hair shaved. Heng Chivoan

Tuesday, 10 January 2012
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Sam Rainsy Party lawyer Choung Choungy, already facing charges of abetting a prison escape, now stands accused by the Cambodian Bar Association of contravening his professional code of ethics by criticising the justice system, the association’s president said yesterday.

The association will issue a letter to the lawyer asking him to appear before its council to explain his actions.

Choung Choungy’s “meditation for justice” campaign — a response to the charges against him and SRP parliamentarian Chen Chang — has included shaving his head, dressing as a monk and displaying slogans aimed at the Justice Ministry and the Bar Association.

Bar Association president Chiv Songhak said Choung Choungy had contravened the professional and ethical code for lawyers.

[Cambodian (Monkey)] Bar [Association] Cites Ethics Violations by Opposition Lawyer

Kong Sam Onn (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
18 June 2009

The Cambodian Bar Association has called in for questioning a lawyer for an opposition parliamentarian who is fighting a defamation suit from Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Cambodian Bar Association Chiv Songhak told VOA Khmer Thursday the bar had charged Kong Sam Onn with violations of articles four, six and 15 of the code of ethics.

Ky Tech, former head of the Bar Association and a lawyer for Hun Sen, complained to the bar in April that Kong Sam Onn had violated a code of ethics in speeches made to the media, following a defamation suit brought by Mu Sochua against Hun Sen.

The court has since dropped the suit against Hun Sen, for allegedly degrading remarks made in the 2008 election campaign, but it is pursuing a countersuit filed by Hun Sen.

The retaliatory lawsuit highlights lingering questions of political bias within the court system, which critics say is in dire need of reform.

“We do not close our eyes to punish and to fine the innocent,” he said. “We find out the facts,” Chiv Songhak said. “If [Kong Sam Onn] has acted with wrongdoing in violations of the code of ethics for licensed lawyers, we must punish him at the proper level of his wrongdoing.”

Kong Sam Onn, who will address the bar’s 19-member council on July 7, faces a range of punishment, including a mere warning, a fine, the suspension of his license, or disbarring.

He told VOA Khmer Thursday the charges against him were “baseless.”

“Every lawyer speaks with journalists and there is no charge and there is no fine,” he said. “But in my case, the Cambodian Bar Association must raise this for discussion.”

SRP lawyer to appear at inspection panel ahead of Bar ruling

Monday, 25 May 2009
Written by Cheang Socka
The Phnom Penh Post

Kong Sam Onn faces accusations he acted unethically in lawsuit against PM Hun Sen.

THE lawyer of opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua is to appear before an inspection team at the Cambodian Bar Association today, accused of violating its code of legal ethics.

Kong Sam Onn said that he received a letter from the inspection team Friday, asking him to meet the panel Monday.

"I will go to meet them as scheduled," Kong Sam Onn said Sunday. "They told me that I am accused of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen."

Kong Sam Onn, who is representing Mu Sochua in her defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Hun Sen, was himself accused of defamation by Hun Sen's lawyer after making comments about the case at a press conference April 23. If found guilty by the Bar, he faces possible disbarment.

Bar Association President Chiv Song Hak said he had ordered the inspection team to hand over its report of the investigation to the Bar Council by Monday, although it is not clear if the team will meet its deadline.

"As according to procedure, the Bar will look into the reports first before calling its 19 council members to make a ruling," he said.

Hun Sen's lawyer Ky Tech, who filed the complaint against Kong Sam Onn, said he had not received any information about the current investigation and was waiting to see the decision.

Mu Sochua is suing Hun Sen for comments he made during a speech in Kampot on April 4, which she says refers to her as cheung klang, a phrase that translates as "strong legs".

Mu Sochua says the term has derogatory connotations when applied to women. In response, Hun Sen is countersuing Mu Sochua for defamation, claiming his comments did not refer to her.

I Do Not Intend to Drop my Law Suit: MP Mu Sochua

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I wish to clarify that I do not intend to withdraw my case from the court. Please rest assured that I intend to go all the way.

Please help bring to the attention of the International Bar Association, the very serious situation faced by my lawyer.

The shift now should be on the Bar as the way the PM's lawyer is able to so far manipulate this so called independent institution.

Ky Tech made many comments about me that could be seen as a clear influence on the court.

The Bar must show its independence. If the Bar considers my case, then the Bar must also consider Ky Tech as well.

This case is not about Mu Sochua, it is about Justice. I said it all along.

I was not given the time to clarify my point on VOA and the next day day RFA made its own interpretation without giving me a chance to clarify my view. Please take this as my personal stance on justice.

I thank all of you inside and outside of Cambodia for standing up with me against a system of justice that I dare challenge, even knowing that I will be dragged thru mud by the government and its very sophisticated system. But justice will prevail.

I would also like to inform all of you that MPs from the opposition will take up this case of intimidation of my lawyer to a higher level and to make this as an evaluation of the judiciary in Cambodia.

Do not think that I will leave my pursuit for justice nor that I fear. If that was the case, I would be on the first plane to the USA.

I continue to live my normal life, be as active as ever politically and continue to jog in the park every evening.

I totally understand that the world is watching and that our people count on me. I will never let you down not my principle to be lowevered. I have taken this path by joining SRP and I know the price we must pay.

I also want to share with you that my party is totally behind me and that you will see that we are about to switch my case to a new level that is about fair trail, rule of law and justice as a whole.

Best wishes,
Mu Sochua