Supreme Court upheld Ex-Chief Bodyguard of Oknha Thong Sarath Appeal Murder Conviction

 


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea 

The Supreme Court on February 17, 2022 upheld a former chief bodyguard of Tycoon Thong Sarath who was sentenced to life in jail in 2019 for allegedly killing another tycoon Oknha Ung Meng Chue in 2014. 

Presiding Judge You Ottara identified the convict as Seng Veansna, 48, a former soldier and former Chief of Bodyguards of Oknha Thong Sarath.  

Judge Ottara noted that Phnom Penh Municipal Court on March 26, 2019 sentenced Sarath, 41, a businessman and former military officer; and his four bodyguards identified as Veasna, Meas Sambath, 28, a former soldier with the 911 paratrooper Brigade; and Kouy Chanthol, 30, a former solder with the E70 Brigade; and also Chhun Pheaktra, 48, Sarath’s driver to a life sentence in prison each. 

The court also ordered five of them to jointly pay $10 million in compensation to Taing Kimchheng, 48, Ung Meng Cheu’s wife. 

Judge Ottara said Sarath was charged with “initiating in premeditated murder” while Veasna was charged with “premeditated murder.” 

Chanthol, Sambath and Pheaktra were charged with “conspiracy (accomplice) to premeditated murder” under Articles 28, 29 and 200 of the Criminal Code.  

He noted that all five appealed against their convictions to Phnom Penh Appeal Court which on November 6, 2020 dropped the charges against Sarath, Chanthol, Sambath and Pheaktra and ordered them to be released from prison to be put under court supervision. 

However, the court upheld Veasna’s life sentence.








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