Court Opens Case in Opposition Assault Suit

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
09 September 2008

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The Kampot provincial court on Tuesday began proceedings in a suit against a military official brought by Sam Rainsy Party Deputy Secretary-General Mu Sochua.

A court prosecutor said he questioned Mu Sochua in court Tuesday morning, declining further comment.

Mu Sochua, who brought a suit against Brig. Gen. San Sman, who she claims assaulted her during a dispute in Kampot ahead of July's national election.

Mu Sochua said Tuesday she had filed three complaints against San Sman: assault, sexual harassment and attempted murder.

"My request is to urge the court to have a hearing in this case very soon," she said.

During an argument, "the army general assaulted Mu Sochua and her shirt became undone, leaving her half-naked in front of a crowd of men," the party said in a statement ahead of Tuesday's proceedings.

In Cambodian courts, a prosecutor determines whether a case goes on to an investigating judge. Kampot prosecutors must now question San Sman, according to procedure.

San Sman denied the accusation in a brief comment Tuesday.

"If I had rancor with her, it would be right to accuse me of attempted murder," he said. "But she and I never knew each other."

He called the case a "political issue" and declined further comment.

Sam Rainsy Party Member of Parliament-Elect To Answer Questions of Kampot Court

Phnom Penh, September 5, 2008
Source: SRP

Sam Rainsy Party Member of Parliament-Elect To Answer Questions of Kampot Court

On Tuesday 9 September, 2008, Mu Sochua, MP-elect will appear in Kampot Court to answer questions concerning a complaint she filed on 7 July, 2008, following physical assault by San Sman, a general of the Cambodian Armed Forces.

On the fifth day of the campaign, Mu Sochua, SRP candidate in Kampot spotted a car carrying a license plate of the Cambodian Armed Forces with a big CPP poster on both sides of the car. When she was trying to take a photograph of the car, the owner, a general of the Cambodian Armed Forces and chief of the Border Control unit in Kompong Trach district, Kampot province stopped her. Mu Sochua, knowing that the only chance of proof was to have a picture of the car, attempted to stop the car as the owner was ordering his driver to leave with the car. During the argument, the army general assaulted Mu Sochua and her shirt became undone, leaving her half-naked in front of a crowd of men. Mu Sochua was dragged for about 3 meters by the car that was attempting to leave the scene as the general continued to give his order. Had she not let go off the car, she could have received grave harm to herself.

The Sam Rainsy Party issued a statement strongly condemning such act of violence and any act of violence against its candidates and candidates of any political party.

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