Sentence in murder case upheld by Appeal Court


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court on February 2022 upheld the sentence of two men convicted of murder and robbery by the lower court on July 1, 2016 and sentenced to life in prison. 

Presiding Judge Pov Phousun identified the duo as Som Kimsean, 41, publisher of Sovann Nokor newspaper, and Seng Pharada, 42, and said that an additional accomplice, Suon Saray, 38, received the same sentence in absentia and had a warrant issued for his arrest. 

He identified the victim as Srun Sopheak, 35. 

Judge Phuousun recommended them to appeal the Appeal Court’s decision to the Supreme Court if they do not agree. 

He said they were found guilty of “premeditated murder” under Article 200 of the Criminal Code.

“The three… had persuaded the victim to drink and sing karaoke at a KTV lounge in Boeng Trabek commune. While they were drinking, the trio put hypnosis medicine into the victim’s glass and then he became drunk and went to the bathroom,” said Judge Phousun reading the court documents. 

“When the victim fell asleep, they put the victim in his car and drove away to the outskirts of the city in order to kill him and steal his property,” he said, describing the events of May 22, 2015. 

The victim’s body was later found by villagers on May 23, 2015 who then alerted local police. 

Military police arrested Kimsean on May 27 and Pharada was arrested on July 23 of the same year.   



   

Kimsean, Pharada and their lawyers could not be reached for comment.

 

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