Royal Pardon for Sex Offender - Cambodia Justice Is for Sale

22 June 2012
By Mu Sochua

Royal Pardon for innocent villagers and political prisoners-YES!

A short-cut Royal Pardon for sex offenders-NO!

Justice for sale in Cambodia must be stopped. It is immoral and shameful.

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Cambodian government’s handling of Trofimov case was unpardonable

Friday, 22 June 2012
Mu Sochua

Mu Sochua (right) with democracy icon and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon late last year. Photograph: supplied

It goes without saying that the extradition or deportation of Alexander Trofimov is long overdue. However, questions still remain about the irregularities in the sentencing and pardoning of this serial sex offender. The entire case has been riddled with inconsistencies and allegations of high-level corruption. The shortcomings of the Cambodian judiciary have only served to compound the culture of impunity that exists in this country.

Trofimov, who became the focus of Cambodia’s largest-ever paedophilia case, had been convicted of procuring sex from 17 girls between the ages of six and 13. Trofimov himself admitted to sexually abusing 16 of the girls.

During the appeal process, the Russian Embassy in Phnom Penh requested his extradition stating that Trofimov was wanted for the sexual abuse of at least three minors in Russia. The Russian Embassy’s statement added to the wealth of evidence which showed that there was absolutely no doubt that Trofimov was a serious and dangerous serial sex offender and that the likelihood of him reoffending was extremely high.

Royal pardons ‘undermined’ child sex abuse fight

Alexander Trofimov

Alexander Moritz Watrin

Rene Paul Martin Aubel

Thursday, 21 June 2012
David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

The decision to pardon three pedophiles in December “undermined the credibility of Cambodian efforts to combat child sex tourism”, according to the US State Department’s 2012 Trafficking in Persons Report, released yesterday.

Russian national Alexander Trofimov, also known as Stanislav Molodyakov, German national Alexander Watrin and Dutch national Rene Paul Martin Aubel were granted royal pardons from pedophilia convictions by King Norodom Sihamoni.

Collectively, they had been convicted of committing sex crimes against 27 boys and girls.

CCHR condemnsRoyal Pardon and premature release of convicted pedophiles

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Anger over pedophile pardons [-Cambodian children are valueless to the Xmer regime]

Russian pedophile Alexander Trofimov (left) is escorted after a hearing at Phnom Penh Municipal Court in March of 2008. (Photo by: Reuters)

Tuesday, 27 December 2011
May Titthara and Vincent MacIsaac
The Phnom Penh Post

[Trofimov] raped girls as young as nine there

A third foreign pedophile – a Dutch national who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sex crimes against six boys in 2005 – was released from prison last week after receiving a royal pardon.

Prey Sar prison director Sun Lean said yesterday Rene Paul Martin Aubel had left the prison in Phnom Penh on December 23 after being pardoned.

The early release of three foreign pedophiles in one week was not a coincidence, Seila Samleang, country director of the NGO Action Pour Les Enfants, said.

It marked the first time such pardons had been used to gain early release for foreign pedophiles, and now that this avenue had been opened, it would probably be exploited more frequently, he said.

Pardons, as Buddha’s Birthday Approaches

Cambodia is facing an overcrowding of its jails, with an estimated 14,000 prisoners across the system in 2010, according to government statistics.

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer

Phnom Penh Tuesday, 17 May 2011

"Under that request, 19 prisoners would be freed and another 153 would have sentences reduced."

The Ministry of Interior has sent a request for the royal pardon of a handful of prisoners and reduced sentences for others, as Buddha’s birthday approaches.

Kuy Bun Sorn, director of prisons for the Ministry of Interior, said he made the request to King Norodom Sihamoni as part of an annual tradition to celebrate Buddha’s birthday, known in Cambodia as Visaka Bochea.

Under that request, 19 prisoners would be freed and another 153 would have sentences reduced, Kuy Bun Sorn said.

[Thai] PM backs new appeal for 2 Thais

8/04/2011
Bangkok Post

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says jailed activist Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon should be able to seek a royal pardon in Cambodia on humanitarian grounds.

He was speaking after Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said on Wednesday that under Cambodian law a person convicted of a crime must serve two-thirds of their jail term before being considered for a royal pardon. The two Thai activists did not qualify at this stage.

Mr Abhisit said there had been requests in the past for royal pardons in Cambodia on humanitarian grounds and the two should be entitled to that.

The premier said the Thai authorities would try all means possible to help Veera and Ratree.

Cambodia: No pardon for Thai pair now

April 7, 2011
By The Nation, Agencies

Nationalist activists Veera Somkwamkid and Ratree Pipattanpaiboon might have to stay behind bars in Cambodia for possibly two-thirds of their jail term or longer, after the Cambodian government officially rejected their requests for a royal pardon.

"According to Cambodian law, whoever is convicted of a crime has to serve two-thirds of his or her jail term before being considered for a royal pardon," Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said at Phnom Penh International Airport before leaving for Indonesia to hold border meetings with Thailand. "So they [the two Thais] have not met the qualification for royal amnesty."

Veera and Ratree were arrested on December 29 together with five other Thai nationals, including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth, while inspecting a disputed border area near Sa Kaew province's Ban Nongchan.

The five were released following suspended prison terms on the charge of trespassing, but Veera and Ratree were convicted of additional charges of espionage, with eight- and six-year jail terms respectively.

Cambodia vetoes pardon for Veera

Veera: Brother wants to visit

Ratree: Still in Prey Sar prison

7/04/2011
Bangkok Post

PHNOM PENH / The Cambodian government has rejected Thailand's request to ask King Norodom Sihamoni to grant a royal pardon to the two members of the Thai Patriots Network jailed in Cambodia for espionage, Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong says.

``According to Cambodian law, whoever is convicted of a crime, he or she has to serve two-thirds of jail term before dhbeing considered for a royal pardon,'' Hor Namhong told dhreporters yesterday at Phnom Penh International Airport before leaving for border meetings with Thailand in Indonesia.

``So they [the two Thais] have not met the qualification for royal amnesty,'' he added.

Cambodia rejects royal pardon for two Thai "Yellow-shirt" activists

April 06, 2011
Xinhua

Cambodian government has rejected Thai's demand to ask King Norodom Sihamoni to grant a royal pardon to the two high-profile "Yellow-shirt" activists jailed in Cambodia for espionage, said Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Wednesday.

"According to Cambodian law, whoever with the conviction of crime, he/she has to server two-thirds of jail term before being considered for royal pardon," Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, told reporters on Wednesday at Phnom Penh International Airport before leaving for border meetings with Thailand in Indonesia.

"So they (the two Thais) have not met the qualification for royal amnesty," he added.

No pardon for Thai pair in spying case, Cambodia says

Apr 6, 2011
DPA

Phnom Penh - Two Thai nationals jailed in February on charges of spying will not be granted a royal pardon, the Cambodian government said Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has been informed. It had requested the pardon in March.

'We sent them the note to inform them that we respect our law, and according to our law the convict will serve at least two-thirds of the prison term,' Koy Kuong said.

'After that, the convict may be considered for a royal pardon.'

Tea Banh non-committal over pardon

29/03/2011
Wassana Nanuam
Bangkok Post

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh said he has no idea when Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon will be granted a royal padon.

He said this in an interview with the Bangkok Post in Phnom Penh.

Gen Tea Banh said procedural steps must be taken in seeking a royal pardon for the convicts, adding that he did not know if Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had forwarded the petition for a royal pardon filed by Mr Veera and Ms Ratree to the king.

Nobody can tell how the decision would be and when they would be released, he added.

Thailand seeks royal pardon for two people jailed in Cambodia

March 24, 2011
Xinhua

The Thai embassy in Phnom Penh has submitted a petition seeking a royal pardon for two Thais being jailed there for illegal entry and espionage charges, a government official said on Wednesday.

The petition was submitted through the Cambodian Foreign Ministry on March 14, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Thani Thongphakdi was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post online.

Thani said he did not know how long the pardon process would take.

Veera Somkwamkid, a leader of the nationalistic Thai Patriots Network, whose supporters have been protesting against the Thai government for its mishandling of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute, and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon and five other Thais were arrested by Cambodian soldiers on Dec. 29 for illegal entry.

Amnesty Possible Without Premier Request: Analysts

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Washington, DC Tuesday, 22 March 2011

“It’s because the prime minister has the power.”

While some ruling government officials maintain that opposition leader Sam Rainsy can only receive a royal pardon with a request from the prime minister, legal observers say that practice is only a matter of courtesy.

Opposition lawmakers and other legal professionals say a royal pardon is up to the king himself, Norodom Sihamoni.

The king was sent a letter this week by opposition party lawmakers seeking a reprieve for their leader, Sam Rainy, who was removed from parliament this month.

The letter, signed by 24 Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers, comes as the party faces the prospect of the 2012 and 2013 elections without its leader, who is in exile and facing criminal convictions in Cambodia. Some political analysts have warned that elections will have less legitimacy in the eyes of the international community if they are held without the leader of the opposition.

Ou Virak, director of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, told VOA Khmer that a royal pardon, by law, need not be requested by the prime minister. Such a request has only become a practice, he said.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: King's Pardon

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

CCHR supports calls for royal pardon of Sam Rainsy

Cambodian opposition seeks royal pardon for leader

Monday, March 21, 2011
AFP

PHNOM PENH — Cambodian opposition lawmakers have asked the king to pardon their exiled leader after he lost a final appeal against a two-year jail sentence, according to a letter seen by AFP on Monday.

Sam Rainsy, who has been living in France, was handed the prison term in his absence last year for inciting racial discrimination and uprooting border markings with neighbouring Vietnam in 2009.

His lawyer said the case was politically motivated, but after exhausting his appeals against the verdict, the outspoken politician was stripped of his parliamentary seat last week.

In a letter dated March 18, Sam Rainsy Party MPs urged King Norodom Sihamoni "to pardon Sam Rainsy... so that he can continue his role as a representative of the Cambodian people and fulfil his duties to serve the nation."

SRP asks the king to pardon opposition leader Sam Rainsy

21 March 2011
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Soch

24 SRP MPs signed a joint letter on 18 March 2011, asking King Sihamoni to pardon opposition leader Sam Rainsy so that he may return back to Cambodia. The letter indicated that Sam Rainsy’s sentence is unfair because Sam Rainsy’s actions are to serve the country and the nation, therefore, he should not receive the sentences issued against him. The letter added that the absence of Sam Rainsy to lead the 2nd largest political party in Cambodia affects the multi-plural democratic system in Cambodia. The letter also indicated the pardon for Sam Rainsy will help him receive his position and his rights as a Member of Parliament back.

Thai gov't to ask for royal pardon to two "Yellow Shirt" activists jailed in Cambodia

March 15, 2011
Xinhua

The outgoing Thai ambassador Prasas Prasasvinitchai said Tuesday that his government will submit a petition to Cambodian government in order to ask Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni to grant a royal pardon to the two high-profile "Yellow Shirt" activists jailed in Cambodia for espionage.

The ambassador made the remarks during a farewell meeting with Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong on Tuesday.

The ambassador also told reporters after the meeting that so far the two Thais have not signed the letter for royal pardon yet.

"As soon as they sign the request, I will present it to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs; then, ask the royal government of Cambodia for high consideration," he said.

Ministry insists Thai pair will seek pardon

3/03/2011
Thanida Tansubhapol & Anucha Charoenpo
Bangkok Post

The Foreign Affairs Ministry insists Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkhwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon want to submit a request for a royal pardon from Cambodia's king.

Permanent secretary for foreign affairs Theerakul Niyom yesterday said Mr Veera and Ms Ratree did not submit appeals to Cambodia's Court of Appeal after the deadline expired yesterday.

Instead they told the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh that they would seek a royal pardon.

"They told the Thai embassy there, and the Thai embassy sent a note to inform the ministry in Bangkok of their planned request for a royal pardon," said Mr Theerakul.

2 Thais jailed in Cambodia for espionage decide not to appeal

February 27, 2011
Xinhua

The two high-profile "Yellow Shirt" activists jailed in Cambodia for espionage have decided not to appeal against the verdict of Phnom Penh Municipal Court, the defense lawyers confirmed on Saturday afternoon.

"They have quit the plan to file the complaint to the Court of Appeals against the verdict," one of the two defense lawyers Ros Aun told Xinhua by telephone.

The duo is Veera Somkwamkid, one of the leaders of the People's Network against Corruption and a high-profile activist in the Thailand Patriot Network, and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court, on Feb. 1, convicted Veera and Ratree of illegal entry, unlawful entry into military base and espionage and sentenced them to 8 years and 6 years in jail respectively.