Hun Sen refuses to approve pardon for Prince Ranariddh

Friday, 08 August 2008
Neth Pheaktra
The Cambodia Daily

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced yesterday that he will not sign any request for King Norodom Sihamoni to pardon his half brother Prince Norodom Ranariddh, whose conviction for breach of trust was upheld by the Supreme Court last month.

In an oblique reference to Prince Ranariddh, Hun Sen said that he could consider such a request only if the prince has served two-thirds of his jail term.

“If [the prince has been sentenced] to 18 months in jail, [he] must first serve two-thirds of the term,” the premier said.

On July 30 the Supreme Court upheld the Appeals Court’s decision to hand down an 18-month sentence to Prince Ranariddh and ordered him to pay US$150,000 in compensation on charges of breach of trust over the sale of the Funcinpec Party’s headquarters during his time as party president.

In a last-ditch effort to repeal the conviction against the prince, who is currently in self-imposed exile, opposition leaders and Mam Sonando, head of Beehive Radio Station, have written to King Sihamoni to consider pardoning the prince — a move that Hun Sen ridiculed as inappropriate.

“[Although the prince] has not been in jail, [a royal] pardon has been requested,” said Hun Sen. Such a request, he explained, should only come after the prince has completed two-thirds of his jail term, after which the Department of Prisons would report to the Ministry of Justice. The ministry would forward the report to the prime minister, who could then request the King to award a royal pardon.

Hun Sen said royal pardons have been given in the past without keeping to the procedures in a spirit of compromise, but emphasized that such a give and take policy has now come to an end.

According to Article 27 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia the King “shall have the right to grant partial or complete amnesty.”

Ranariddh changes his candidacy to Phnom Penh city

Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A report indicated that Prince Norodom Ranariddh, NRP president who is still not able to return home, changed his candidacy from Kampong Cham to Phnom Penh instead. Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, told the Kampuchea Thmei newspaper that the reason the prince is presenting his candidacy in Phnom Penh is because he was a longtime MP representing the province of Kampong Cham. However, the NRP is concerned about whether the prince will have the ability to return home or not. Muth Chantha said that, in reality, we want the sentence on the prince be issued quickly so that the king can pardon him. However, if the sentence is delayed until close to the election period, and the NEC removes his name from the list of candidates, this would mean that the government does not want the prince to return home. Muth Chantha indicated that if this scenario would occur, it would be a serious injustice for our country which upholds democracy.

NRP appeals the Appeal Court ruling

Thursday, December 26, 2007
Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

On 26 December 2007, a NRP party official indicated that his party has prepared all the documents to appeal the decision handed down by the Appeal Court which upheld the sentence issued by the Phnom Penh municipal court during an absentia ruling issued on Prince Ranariddh, NRP President and former Funcinpec party president, stemming from a breach of trust charge.

Prince Ranariddh was charged with breach of trust in the sale of the Funcinpec party headquarters, located near the Chrauy Changvar bridge, and he was sentenced to 18-month jail counting from the day he will be arrested, and the prince is also forced to pay $150,000 in damage compensation to Funcinpec, as well as surrendering the new party headquarters to the Funcinpec party.

Muth Chantha, NRP spokesman, declared that his party has prepared all the documents to bring the case to the Supreme Court in the near future. He added: “This appeal is to oppose the decision handed down by the Appeal court which decided to uphold the sentence issued on the prince by the Phnom Penh municipal court.” He added that the (Supreme) court has to accept the (NRP) filing, however, it is not known when it will hold a hearing in this case.

When asked about means that allow the prince to return back to Cambodia in time for the election, Muth Chantha declared: “It all depends on the court, if it is fair and will issue a fair sentence for the prince, then he will be able to return back.” He added that there are several embassy officials who said that the absence of the leader of a party participating in the election shows that the election is not fair.

Nouv Sovathero, Funcinpec spokesman, declared: “We won at the municipal court and the Appeal Court already, we are waiting for the decision from the Supreme Court only. We are following this case, wherever they go, we go there also.” He added: “We borrowed money from others to buy the new party headquarters while waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court to see whether we will win or we will lose in this lawsuit.”

Nevertheless, recently, Prince Ranariddh called for a unification of the royalists and the democrats, by writing letters to Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha. Furthermore, both Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha traveled to France where the prince was staying with the goal of discussing the unification. However, both Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha rejected that they had met with Prince Ranariddh.

Muth Chantha added: “Prince Ranariddh did not meet Messrs. Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, because when the pair arrived in France, Prince Ranariddh already left to return back to Malaysia already.” He added that Prince Ranariddh still maintains his stance for a unification, however, some people are not truthful, they come to unite only to divide the votes, so that the ruling party can uphold its power. He added also: “The return of Prince Ranariddh depends on the court.”