CBA starts investigating on Kong Sam Onn based on Hun Sen’s lawyer complaint

19 May 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Chiv Song Hak, president of the Cambodian Bar Association (CBA), indicated on 18 May that the CBA had already decided to form a review committee to look and investigate into the case of Kong Sam Onn, SRP MP Mu Sochua’s lawyer, based on a complaint made by Ky Tech, the former CBA president and current government lawyer representing Hun Sen. Ky Tech complained to the CBA that Kong Sam Onn violated the lawyer’s ethics. Ky Tech used to tell news media that Kong Sam Onn violated the professional ethics when he publicly commented on the case brought up by his defendant, Mrs. Mu Sochua, against Hun Sen when she did not formally file her complaint with the court yet. Kong Sam Onn is Mrs. Mu Sochua’s lawyer in her defamation lawsuit against Hun Sen. According to Chiv Song Hak’s claim, the CBA initiated its investigation since yesterday (Monday). The CBA will start its investigation by researching documents related to Ky Tech’s complaint. The CBA review committee will consist of 4 members, and its work will last about one week. Kong Sam Onn said that the CBA did not inform him yet about this case. However, Kong Sam Onn used to declare that he is very concerned about his professional license when he has to confront such a complaint from the lawyer of Cambodia’s Strongman.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: My Doggy, CBA

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Translation from Khmer:

CBA, my doggy. He knows how to guard the house.
He knows how to kowtow, he can walk on his hind legs.
If you want to order him around, feed him a bone,
Then he will walk on his hind legs and wag his tail for you to see.

CBA = (Hun Sen's) Controlled (Monkey) Bar Association?

Ky Tech, Hun Sen's lawyer and former controversial president of the CPP-controlled (Monkey) Bar Association

Bar panel to begin review of SRP lawyer

Monday, 18 May 2009
Written by Cheang Sokha The Phnom Penh Post

THE Cambodian Bar Association will decide this week whether to suspend or disbar Sam Rainsy Party lawyer Kong Sam Onn, accused of violating the organisation's professional code of ethics, the Bar's president said Sunday.

Kong Sam Onn, who is representing opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua in her defamation lawsuit against Prime Minister Hun Sen, was himself accused of defamation by one of Hun Sen's lawyers after making comments about the case at a press conference April 23.

Bar Association President Chiv Song Hak said a special inspection team would convene today to investigate the allegations against Kong Sam Onn.

At that point, the panel would send its report to the Bar and then the organisation would call its 19 council members to meet before making a decision on the case, which has been criticised by legal experts who say it is an example of government interference in the courts.

When contacted Sunday, Kong Sam Onn said that the inspection team has not yet contacted him for questioning. But he argued that the complaint against him is groundless.

"In general, the inspection team is independent, but I am concerned about the individuals involved in the case," he said.

"According to the law, I committed no misconduct with the code of ethics and there is no specific accusation."

Hun Sen's lawyer Ky Tech, a former president of the Bar who brought the complaint against Kong Sam Onn, said he was interested in the outcome of the investigation, adding that he expected the inspection panel to report its findings to the Bar council by Thursday.