Supreme Court Upholds Acid Attack Verdict

Chea Ratha (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Wednesday, 06 October 2010

“I still worry about the safety of myself and my family because the offenders have not yet been arrested.”

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of a former military police commander for the acid attack in retribution against a former lover.

Chea Ratha, the former deputy chief of military police, and five accomplices, were released by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August 2009, whose not guilty verdict was reversed by the Appeals Court in November that year.

The Appeals Court issued an 18-year prison sentence against the six suspects in absentia and fined $100,000. They all remain at large.

They were accused of attacking Ya Sok Nim, the aunt of beauty queen In Solida, the reported lover of Chea Ratha, in May 2008. In Solida, who was not harmed, has said she was forced into a relationship with Chea Ratha until she finally refused.

Ya Sok Nim, whose face was disfigured in the attack and who has gone into hiding since Chea Ratha's release, told VOA Khmer by phone the courts had “provided me and my family justice.”

“I still worry about the safety of myself and my family because the offenders have not yet been arrested,” she said.

Her lawyer, Huang Sopheak, said the verdict was right but the compensation was not enough. However, lawyer for the defense, Nach Try, said the courts had made their decision with insufficient evidence or witnesses.

Am Sam Ath, lead investigator for the rights group Licadho, said the conviction sent a positive message that could deter future attacks.

Appeals Court Postpones Acid Attack Case

Chea Ratha (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
06 November 2009

The Court of Appeals on Friday postponed a hearing to decide whether a former military police officer, recently released from jail, should stand trial for an alleged acid attack.

The former brigadier general, Chea Ratha, was released, along with six suspected accomplices, in August, but her alleged victim, Ya Soknim, 39, filed an appeal to have her tried.

Chea Ratha had a reported love affair with Ya Soknim’s niece, beauty queen In Solida, which ended in 2008 and was allegedly the cause of the attack, which occured May 8, 2008, outside Phnom Penh’s Tuol Tumpong market.

The court was forced to postpone the hearing because the lawyers of the defendants were not present, said Seng Sivutha, chief judge of the Appeals Court. “We will seek the lawyers for the suspects for an upcoming hearing,” to be held later this month or next, he added.

Ya Soknim, who has gone into hiding since Chea Ratha’s release, said she was “disappointed” with Friday’s delay.

“I want the Appeals Court to hold a hearing against Chea Ratha…sooner and sooner, providing real justice to me as an acid attack victim,” she said.

Am Sam Ath, an investigator for the rights group Licadho, said the postponement was legal, but he hoped the next hearing would “provide real justice.”

“If the Appeals Court upholds the [release] verdict of the Phnom Penh court, this is a new instance of impunity in Cambodia,” he said.

Licadho reported 12 acid attacks in 2008, with 14 victims. No suspects were brought to trial.

Appeals Court Takes Up Acid Attack Case

Chea Ratha (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

By Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
04 November 2009

The Court of Appeals is expected to hold a hearing Friday on the freeing of seven suspects, including a high-ranking military police official, accused in an acid attack, a rights worker said Monday.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court released Chea Rotha, a brigadier general in the military police, and six alleged accomplices in August, in a case stemming from a 2008 attack on her reported former lover, beauty queen In Solida.

“Because the Appeals Court has quickly brought the case for a hearing, we hope the Appeals Court will give justice to the victim,” Am Sam Ath, a rights investigator for Lichado, told VOA Khmer.

If the Appeals Court rejects the finding of the lower court, namely, to release the suspects, the case can be reinvestigated, either by the Appeals Court itself​ or through an order to the municipal court, he said.

In Solida, who was disfigured in the attack, has blamed Chea Rotha, who she left after an affair in 2008.

Acid Attack Appeal Scheduled

10/26/2009
ShortNews.com

Cambodia - In May 2008, Ya Sokhim had acid poured all over her face and upper body. She claimed that it was because she had helped Soklyda, her niece, escape the wrath of Chea, Soklyda´s lesbian lover and former Chief of Staff of the military police.

Last month, the municipal court acquitted Chea and five other suspects in a ruling that was condemned by rights groups.

The appeal will be heard at the end of October. Chea is out of the country and was not available for comment.

Source: www.phnompenhpost.com

Task Force Formed to Review Courts [-Corruption to be reviewed by even more corrupt officials?]

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
16 September 2009

Cambodia will establish a team to review the courts and allegations of corruption, at the initiative of the Ministry of Interior, officials said Tuesday.

The main issue was the release by the courts without due process of alleged criminals arrested by police, a ministry spokesman said.

In a Sept. 4 letter obtained by VOA Khmer, Prime Minister Hun Sen names 26 officials from the ministries of Justice and Interior and from the military police to work as members of the task force.

In cases where files involve serious conditions or complications, these must be reported to Hun Sen for review, according to the letter. The task force will also be allowed to copy case files for inspection and analysis.

Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said the ministry had requested the task force to learn why some suspects were released on bail or acquitted by the courts.

Ke Sakhan, deputy chief of Phnom Penh Municipal Court and a presiding judge, declined to comment directly, saying he had not seen Hun Sen’s letter.

“We work in accordance with procedure,” he said.

Other court officials could not be reached for comment.

News of the task force comes following the acquittal last month of a former military police official, Chea Ratha, and six others accused in an acid attack on the aunt of a beauty queen.

Acid Attack Victim To Appeal Suspects’ Release

In Soklyda (L) and her aunt, Ya Soknim, appeal for help in their court case against a Cambodian military police officer.

By Men Kimseng, VOA Khmer
Washington
08 September 2009

The family of an acid attack victim has vowed to fight on in court, despite living in fear and hiding since a recent court decision to release the alleged perpetrators.

Ya Soknim, 39, who was assaulted in May 2008, said Monday that her whole family has limited its movement since the Phnom Penh court dropped charges against a former military police officer, Chea Ratha, and six alleged accomplices.

“For fear of our family’s safety, we regularly change our hiding place,” Ya Soknim said, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”

The family has decided to appeal the release, despite the appearance of strangers who seem to be watching them following last week’s decision.

Ya Soknim took burn damage to nearly half her body, after her niece, In Soklyda, a former beauty queen, broke off a love affair with Chea Ratha, a former military police deputy chief of staff.

In Soklyda, who also appeared on “Hello VOA,” said that since she left Chea Ratha, most of her family has not been able to work, as they continue to move around to stay safe.

“We will continue to take our case to the Appeal Court, even though we know that we have little hope,” she said. “Our lives are in the hands of the perpetrators. We now live in fear. Our lives are meaningless. We are only waiting for our dying day.”

Chea Ratha was reportedly on a trip overseas for a medical check-up when the attack took place and has herself been in hiding for fear of arrest. However, In Soklyda said the female officer had made threatening phone calls to her relatives.

“She threatened and mocked at my aunt’s suffering,” In Soklyda said. “It was the same threats as before I left her.”

Court Lambasted for Dropping Acid Attack Case

Chea Ratha (Photo: Heng Chivoan, The Phnom Penh Post)

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
02 September 2009

The victim of a 2008 acid attack victim jointed local human rights groups on Wednesday in decrying a court decision to drop charges against a former military police woman and her subordinates.

Ya Soknim, 39, told reporters at Licadho’s office Wednesday she suffered for injustice, and worried for her safety and revenge after they were freed from charges.

“For people without money, it is not necessary to complain,” she said. The court “sees the poor and vulnerable people and lets them live in misfortune.”

Ya Soknim was assaulted in May 2008, after her niece, In Soklyda, a former beauty queen, had an allegedly forced love affair with Chea Ratha, a former military police deputy chief of staff.

Chea Ratha was not available for comment.

In Soklyda told reporters Wednesday she would have “remorse my whole life,” seeing the scars of her aunt’s acid attack. She claims Chea Ratha “told me she loved me and forced me to live with her for more than two years…after I refused to love her.”

“When I open my eyes, I see my aunt’s scar from the acid attack,” she said.

“How can I live, if the court has no trial, dropped the charge and there’s no justice because of no evidence?” she said. “In fact we have evidence. My family cannot live in this country if the offenders go free.”

Naly Pilorge, director of the rights group Licadho, called the court’s decision “yet another blatant display of Cambodia’s rampant impunity and culture of brutal violence.”

“What is so shocking in the case is the judges’ apparent total disregard of the evidence against Chea Ratha and her alleged accomplices,” she said. “Court rulings like this only ensure that acid attacks will continue, because the perpetrators are not brought to justice.”

Ou Virak, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said the court had shown a lack of independence in prosecuting high-ranking officials.

“As long as the courts operate at the direction of the Cambodian government, rule of law will remain an empty slogan at donor conferences,” he said.

Acquittal expected for Chea Ratha: attorney

In Soklyda (L) and Chea Ratha (R) when they were on better terms (Photo: Koh Santepheap)

Friday, 28 August 2009
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

A LAWYER representing former deputy chief of staff of the National Military Police Chea Ratha, who is suspected of involvement in an acid attack, said Thursday he expects his client will be exonerated by a Phnom Penh court in a verdict scheduled to be delivered on Monday.

Keo Ya said Phnom Penh Municipal Court should acquit Chea Ratha of charges stemming from the attack last year.

"I hope my client will be released on [Monday] because the court does not have enough proof against her," Keo Ya said.

"The prosecution has filed a complaint against her that only suspects her of involvement [in the incident]," he said, adding that Chea Ratha would likely return to Cambodia if the court ruled in her favour.

Keo Ya would not provide any information about Chea Ratha's current whereabouts.

Presiding Judge Din Sivuthy could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Chea Ratha is being tried in connection with an incident from May 2008 in which a Phnom Penh woman, Ya Soknim, was severely disfigured in an acid attack. Ya Soknim is the aunt of prominent beauty pageant contestant In Soklyda, who had a love affair with Chea Ratha.

Chea Ratha has admitted the love affair but denies any involvement in the acid attack.