SRP MP Ho Vann is not sure whether he will attend the court hearing

Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

SRP MP Yim Sovann, spokesman for the SRP, told the Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper on Tuesday 25 August that he did not receive clear indication as to whether MP Ho Vann will attend the Phnom Penh municipal court hearing scheduled for 09 September or not: “He (Ho Vann) is thinking about this issue. Right now, Mr. Ho Vann is in the US.” Sok Roeun, representative of the prosecution issued a summon ordering SRP MP Ho Vann to attend the 09 September hearing. The court summon stipulated that: “In the case the accused does not show up to the Phnom Penh municipal court on the date set, the court will sentence Mr. Ho Vann behind closed door.” Nevertheless, Yim Sovann claimed that Mr. Ho Vann does not seem to have a lawyer representing him legally for the court hearing, just like in the case of Mrs. Mu Sochua.

Court Again Summons SRP Lawmaker

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
25 August 2009

Click here to listen to the audio program in Khmer (MP3)

Phnom Penh court has summoned Ho Vann, an opposition lawmaker accused of defamation and disinformation, who so far does not have a lawyer, for questioning.

Ho Vann is facing a lawsuit brought be 22 military officials, after he publicly questioned the quality of certificates granted by a Vietnamese war college. If convicted, he could receive three years in prison.

The summons is for Sept. 9, and deputy prosecutor Sok Roeun said the court would “wait and see” if Ho Vann appears.

Yim Sovann, a spokesman for the Sam Rainsy Party, said Ho Vann has not found a lawyer, which may prevent him from appearing.

“I don’t think the Cambodian court will bring justice for him,” Yim Sovann said Tuesday. “Ho Vann’s case is a political issue, so we already know the verdict. The court sentence will follow the government.”

The National Assembly, which is heavily dominated by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, suspended Ho Vann’s parliamentary immunity in June, along with fellow SRP lawamker Mu Sochua, who faces a fine for allegedly defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The cases were just two in a line of court actions that critics say is stifling government dissent.

SRP MP Ho Vann summoned to court on 09 September

Click on the court summon in Khmer to zoom in

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Phnom Penh municipal court summoned SRP MP Ho Vann to come to the court on 09 September 2009 at 2:30PM to answer about the defamation and disinformation accusations leveled against him. The court summon indicates that, in the case Ho Vann does not show up in court, the court will hand down a decision behind closed door. Regarding this summon, MP Yim Sovann, the SRP spokesman, said that at this time, Ho Vann is currently in the US and he cannot be present at the court hearing. Yim Sovann added that, even if Ho Vann will not show up in court, the SRP will not send in representatives to attend the court hearing because Ho Vann’s case, just like the case of Mrs. Mu Sochua, are political cases that he does not pay attention and he does not value this hearing at all. Ho Vann was sued by 22 high-ranking military officers [known as Hanoi PhDs] regarding a news article published on 21 April, allegedly quoting Ho Vann as criticizing these PhD diplomas granted to these 22 Hanoi PhDs by the Viet military institute.