REAKSMEY KONGKEA

  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the convictions of tycoon Sok Bun and five former government officials who were jailed for between five and seven years over land grabs involving more than 500 hectares in Preah Sihanouk province.   The offences were committed between 2016 and 2019 in Koh Rong city’s Koh Rong commune.   Presiding Judge Kong Srim identified the tycoon as Sok Bun, the former President of the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agent Association and the other five as Ung Nith, the former Koh Rong city council chief; Seng Hour Leang, the former Koh Rong commune chief; Hem Sales, the former Koh Rong commune council member; Ke Sorm, the former second deputy chief of Koh Rong commune; and Keo Pov, the former chief of Prek Svay village.   Judge Srim said that “the Supreme Court has decided to uphold the convicts' sentences because the Supreme Court has considered that the ruling made by the lower cour...

  Buth Reaskmey Kongkea   A former Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) officer was yesterday tried by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for allegedly seeking and receiving bribes from complainants to proceed with cases as well as from those complained against to drop investigations.   Judge Song Bunnarith identified the accused as Touch Tith Vathana, 27, a former officer with the ACU’s International Complaints and Legal Affairs Department.   Judge Bunnarith said that Tith Vathana was charged with “misappropriation of public funds” under Articles 592 and 593 of the Criminal Code.   If convicted, he faces a jail term of between two and five years and a fine of $1,000 to $2,500.   Judge Bunnarith said Vathana was arrested on January 28 by the ACU.   He said the accused had been tasked to receive, investigate and research complaints and prepare a report for the ACU to take further action.   He noted that last year, Vathana was suspended fr...

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea The remains of 23 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, killed during the 1980s in Siem Reap province in Phase II, were repatriated to Vietnam through the Provincial Administration and the Ministry of National Defence on Saturday. The handing over ceremony of the remains, which were held at Siem Reap Provincial Military Operation Headquarters, was presided over by Provincial Deputy Governor Pin Prakod and Colonel Nguyen Duc Thong, Commander of the Vietnamese K71 Task Force of the 7 th Military Region in Tay Ninh province of Vietnam. Prakod said that the two countries’ working groups started looking for the remains of the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in the province in 2003. He said the search was conducted in Kralanh, Angkor Choum, Sotr Nikum, Puok and Angkor Thom districts, which are former frontline fighting areas between Vietnamese soldiers and Khmer Rouge troops. He emphasised that the working groups have unearthed the remains of 940 Vietnamese volunt...

  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea Concerned over the rising use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) among Cambodian youth and the health risks these products pose, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports on Friday issued guidelines to prevent the sale and use of these products in public and private educational institutions. According to the ministry’s directive issued by Minister Hang Chuon Naron and obtained yesterday by the Khmer Times, the guidelines aim to prevent the use of e-cigarettes and HTPs as they are dangerous to people’s health and pose the risk of heart and lung disease and the long-term impact on brain development in children and youths. The ministry has issued to all educational units under the ministry in the capital and provinces in public and private institutions guidelines for educators and students about the effects of e-cigarettes and HTPs. The Ministry strictly prohibits the use, distribution and advertising of these products inside and aroun...

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea Police in Kampong Thom province yesterday arrested an elected Candlelight Party (CP) commune chief, who allegedly committed “robbery” in 2002 and fled the scene of the crime, but some people claim the arrest was politically motivated. Provincial Police Deputy Chief Brigadier General Tith Samnal told Khmer Times yesterday that the suspect was identified as Nhim Sarom, 52, alias Tuk Sarom or Tub Vann or Tub Rom, the elected Chamna Loeu commune chief. Br. Gen. Samnal said that Sarom was arrested at about 1 pm at his house in Trapaing Chor village in the province’s Stung district’s Chamna Loeu commune. He added that after his arrest, Sarom was placed in pre-trial detention at provincial police headquarters for questioning and further investigation. “He was arrested in accordance with Kampong Thom provincial court investigating judge’s arrest warrant,” Br. Gen. Samnal told Khmer Times. “He was charged in absentia in 2007 by the Kampong Thom provincial court...

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   The Kampong Thom Provincial Court has released Stung district’s Chamna Loeu commune chief Nhim Sarom on bail following his arrest on Tuesday for robbery allegedly committed in 2002.   Deputy prosecutor Say Veasna said Sarom, who was reelected commune chairman on a Candlelight party ticket, was released by the court and had returned home.   “He is now under court supervision and must settle his court’s case in accordance with the law,” he said in a phone interview with Khmer Times yesterday.   Veasna said Sarom’s case was not politically motivated but carried out under the rule of law.   He added that 52-year-old Sarom, together with five others, were convicted in absentia of robbery under Articles 533 and 357 of the Criminal Code and sentenced to five years jail.   Sarom, he added, was detained on Tuesday.   Stung district police chief Colonel Yorng Sam said Sarom and five others had entered a businessman’s house i...

  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea Three accused men yesterday urged the Phnom Penh Appeal Court to reduce their life sentences meted out over the murder of a taxi driver in order to make off with his car and other valuables.  The murder took place on July 6, 2019 in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva district and the victim’s body was thrown in a rice field in Kandal province’s Ksach Kandal district. The body was found by villagers on July 9.  Presiding Judge Pol Sam Oeun named the three men as Mai Sari, 28; his brother Mai Tan, 27; and a friend Chea Kong Dina, 23. He identified the victim as Meas Sophorn, 29.  Judge Sam Oeun said that they were arrested on July 3, 2019 in Svay Rieng province’s Bavet city and brought back to the capital.   He noted that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged them with “premeditated murder” under Articles 29 and 200 of the Criminal Code and on June 15, 2020 sentenced to a life sentence each.  According to the court’s d...

  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea     Activist Seng Chan Theary has been moved to Preah Vihear provincial prison for detention in a bid said to prevent her from creating difficulties, riots and chaos in Phnom Penh’s Correctional Centre 2 (CC2).   Prisons Department spokesman Lieutenant General Nuth Savna said Theary’s transfer from CC2 where she has been held following her arrest to Preah Vihear provincial prison was not political nor a violation of the law or the human rights.   He akined Theary to Mu Sochua, a former CNRP vice-president, who was a problematic case during the latter’s detention.   “Sochu was always creating problems for prison authorities and Theary showed she has similar tendencies. That is why she was moved to Preah Vihear,” Lt Gen Savna told Khmer Times.   “Sochua, when she was imprisoned at Phnom Penh’s CC2, caused difficulties, riots and chaos in the prison. She incited inmates not to obey prison officials’ order...

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   As the threat of terrorism rises globally, Cambodia is looking into upgrading its reponse, including having more sophisticated weapons.   In a move to fight terrorism in the country, forces need to be well-armed as anti-terrorism remains fragile security challenge.   Speaking to about 600 soldiers who are undergoing training at the Royal Cambodian Army headquarters in Phnom Penh on Friday, RAF commander Lieutenant General Hun Manet said that the armed forces need special training and need to be armed with sophisticated weapons to fight against terrorists. “This skill training and capacity building needs to done vigorously, especially for forced to be well-armed,” he said.   “Today’s training is a part of the capacity building of military regions and divisions under the Army which is in the frontline at provinces to add to national anti-terrorism forces in accordance with new restructuring and additional duties related to anti-terrori...

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   Convicted opposition activist Seng Chan Theary, has allegedly caused trouble in Correctional Centre 2, and was transferred to the Preah Vihear provincial prison.   A Correction Centre 2’s prison officer Major Chheng Sochea told Khmer Times yesterday that Chan Theary was transferred the prison in Preah Vihear province on Wednesday because she has been causing trouble inside after arriving to serve her sentence.   He said that the authorities also wanted to prevent any possible protests by her supporters or opposition NGOs which will cause chaos and insecurity at the prison in Phnom Penh.   He did not provide further details and Lieutenant General Nuth Savna, the Deputy Director and spokesman at the General Department of Prisons, could not be reached for comment yesterday.   Chan Theary was sentenced on Tuesday by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to six years in prison for alleged “plotting and incitement” linked to former oppositio...

Tep Neayok Former CNRP leader Kem Sokha on June 15, 2022 officially announced that he has cut off ties with his co-founder of the court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Mr. Sam Rainsy, and said that his partnership with Sam Rainsy had come to an end.   Kem Sokha’s decision was announced just a day after Mr. Sam Rainsy, who is living in exile in Paris, was sentenced in absentia on June 14 to another eight-years in prison along with many other former CNRP senior officials [at least 50 people] by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of plotting and incitement to overthrow the government committed between 2018 and 2019.   Kem Sokha said said he did not support Mr. Sam Rainsy’s activities abroad and asked his followers not to do so, saying his partnership with Sam Rainsy had come to an end.   “I have stopped having any dealings with Sam Rainsy. It is clear that the phrase ‘Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are one person (steadfast)’ no longer applies,” Kem S...

By Tep Neayok   Former CNRP leader Kem Sokha on June 15, 2022 officially announced that he has cut off ties with his co-founder of the court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), Mr. Sam Rainsy, and said that his partnership with Sam Rainsy had come to an end.   Kem Sokha’s decision was announced just a day after Mr. Sam Rainsy, who is living in exile in Paris, was sentenced in absentia on June 14 to another eight-years in prison along with many other former CNRP senior officials [at least 50 people] by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on charges of plotting and incitement to overthrow the government committed between 2018 and 2019.   Kem Sokha said said he did not support Mr. Sam Rainsy’s activities abroad and asked his followers not to do so, saying his partnership with Sam Rainsy had come to an end. “I have stopped having any dealings with Sam Rainsy. It is clear that the phrase ‘Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are one person (steadfast)’ no longer appli...