September 26, 2008
ABC Radio Australia
Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni has pardoned convicted fraudster Prince Norodom Ranariddh, allowing him to return home from self-imposed exile abroad.
Prince Ranariddh, now living in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, had been sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail in March last year over a $US3.6 million illegal property sale.
The court ruled he improperly sold his former political party headquarters and used proceeds from the sale to purchase another property in his own name.
Hours after Hun Sen was formally re-elected the country's prime minister King Sihamoni issued a royal pardon for his half-brother Ranariddh upon the request of the premier.
Prince Ranariddh, now living in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, had been sentenced in absentia to 18 months in jail in March last year over a $US3.6 million illegal property sale.
The court ruled he improperly sold his former political party headquarters and used proceeds from the sale to purchase another property in his own name.
Hours after Hun Sen was formally re-elected the country's prime minister King Sihamoni issued a royal pardon for his half-brother Ranariddh upon the request of the premier.
