Sentences reduced in attempted murder case
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh
Appeal Court yesterday upheld the conviction of three men accused of attempted murder,
but reduced their sentences to six years in prison for beating
and inflicting grievous harm to a 22-year-old-man over a drug deal in
Battambang province in 2018.
Presiding Judge
Ky Rithy named the accused as Sao Tha, male, 25; Vuthy Reaksmey, male,
22; and Chhorn Roeun, male, 23. The three are construction workers
residing in Siri Meanchey commune in Battambang Province’s Sampov Loun
district.
Judge Rithy
identified the victim as Chhuon Sdeoung, construction worker living in the same
commune as the accused. The accused and the victim were friends and also drug
users.
The accused
were sentenced in 2020 by the Battambang Provincial Court to 10 years in prison
on the charge of “attempted murder”.
On February 5,
2018, the accused gave money to the victim to buy drugs, and when the
victim bought the drugs he kept a small package of methamphetamine (ice) for
his personal use.
When the
accused discovered that the victim had kept some ice for himself they became
angry and planned to punish him as a warning.
At about 9:30
pm on February 10, 2018, the accused called the victim and organised to meet at
a Buddhist temple called “Tuol Krasaing Pagoda” in Tuol Krasaing village,
saying that they wanted the victim to buy more drugs.
When the victim
arrived for at the Pagoda, they hacked him many times with an axe and a piece
of steel, inflicting serious injuries. After the attack, they fled.
The victim was
later rescued by police and sent to the hospital for immediate treatment.”
He added that
the accused were arrested on February 13, and police seized an axe and a
piece of steel from them.
Battambang
Provincial Court on March 10, 2020 sentenced the accused to 10 years in prison
each and ordered them to jointly pay 20 million riels ($5,000) in compensation
to the victim.
They were
charged with “accomplice in attempted murder” under Articles 27 and 199 of the
Criminal Code.
However, they
appealed to the Phnom Penh Appeal Court.
“After
considering the ruling of the Battambang Provincial Court, the Phnom Penh
Appeal Court has decided to change the accused’s charges from ‘attempted
murder’ under the Article 199 of the Criminal Code to ‘intentional violence
with aggravating circumstances’ under Article of 218 and reduced their sentence
from 10 years in prison to four years,” Judge Rithy said.
The victim,
Chhuon Sdoeung, said that he will appeal to the Supreme Court.
// END//
Comments