By Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr
Click here to read the article in French
Sam Rainsy, President of the opposition leader bearing his name, finally accepted to pay off the 10 million riels ($2,500) fine to the National Election Committee (NEC).
The payoff was done in the evening of Thursday 26 Feb, at the NEC headquarters, soon after the lifting of Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity by the National Assembly permanent committee, following the request made by the ministry of Justice.
According to the receipt, made publicly available on 27 Feb the SRP, the payment was taken care of by Kuoy Bunroeun, the SRP representative, and the receipt was provided by Keo Phalla, the NEC representative. On his end, Tep Nitha, the NEC secretary-general, declared the receipt of this payment and that the NEC will withdraw its lawsuit against the opposition leader.
Sam Rainsy was sentenced by the NEC to pay a 10 million riels fine for disparaging the CPP leaders during the July 2008 general election. The sentence was confirmed by the Constitutional Council. Sam Rainsy, who considers himself a “victim” of injustice, had refused to pay off this fine, saying that he wanted to fight it off through all means available to him.
The NEC then sued Sam Rainsy at the Phnom Penh municipal court, asking the latter to sanction Sam Rainsy, an action that would require the lifting of Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity. Finally, Sam Rainsy accepted to pay it off in order to end this affair.
The payoff was done in the evening of Thursday 26 Feb, at the NEC headquarters, soon after the lifting of Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity by the National Assembly permanent committee, following the request made by the ministry of Justice.
According to the receipt, made publicly available on 27 Feb the SRP, the payment was taken care of by Kuoy Bunroeun, the SRP representative, and the receipt was provided by Keo Phalla, the NEC representative. On his end, Tep Nitha, the NEC secretary-general, declared the receipt of this payment and that the NEC will withdraw its lawsuit against the opposition leader.
Sam Rainsy was sentenced by the NEC to pay a 10 million riels fine for disparaging the CPP leaders during the July 2008 general election. The sentence was confirmed by the Constitutional Council. Sam Rainsy, who considers himself a “victim” of injustice, had refused to pay off this fine, saying that he wanted to fight it off through all means available to him.
The NEC then sued Sam Rainsy at the Phnom Penh municipal court, asking the latter to sanction Sam Rainsy, an action that would require the lifting of Sam Rainsy’s parliamentary immunity. Finally, Sam Rainsy accepted to pay it off in order to end this affair.
