Son Chhay lost his appeal [-No surprise there considering the rigged court system in Cambodia]

Monday, February 18, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

SRP MP Son Chhay lost his land dispute case in Siem Reap in the Appeal Court. On 15 February, the Appeal Court issued a stay on the Siem Reap/Oddar Meanchey provincial court decision forcing Son Chhay to move out of a land property located in Siem Reap city and turn the land over to the Apsara Authority. On 27 July 2006, the Siem Reap/Oddar Meanchey court decided that Son Chhay must move out of the more than 3-hectare land located in the hotel sector and turn the land over to the Apsara Authority, but Son Chhay refused and took his case to the Appeal Court for another decision. However, the Appeal Court maintained the lower court decision.

Son Chhay will take his case against Sok An’s Apsara Authority to the Supreme Court

SRP MP Son Chhay (L) vs Sok An (R), the powerful right hand man of Strongman Hun Sen

Saturday, February 16, 2008
KI-Media

The Appeal Court rejected SRP MP Son Chhay’s case against the forced sale of his 3.14-heactare property in Siem Reap to the Apsara Authority for a paltry sum of $0.50 per square-meter – an amount far lower than market value. Son Chhay alleged that the Apsara Authority would turn around and sell this land to private developer at $40 per square-meter. The Cambodia Daily quoted Son Chhay as saying at the end of the hearing: “This shows clearly that trials in our country are meaningless. The court doesn’t have a duty to find justice, it is a tool used to serve politics.” While Judge Thou Mony denied that the court decision was political, Son Chhay said that he will bring his case to the Supreme Court.