Prosecutors ask judge to revoke Kem Sokha's political rights, re-arrest and place him in prison

 


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

An the case wound down, the prosecution urged the Judges’ Council of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to strongly punish Kem Sokha, the former President of the former Cambodian National Rescued Party (CNRP) by the laws for allegedly conspiring with foreign states or other foreign agents in order to overthrow the Cambodian government committed in Cambodian territory and other places, between 1993 and 2017. 

Deputy Prosecutor Plong Sophal said that on November 9, 2013, Sokha, who was then the deputy president of the court-dissolved CNRP, told supporters in Australia’s Melbourne that he had followed US orders to plot to overthrow the Royal Government of Cambodia through a colour revolution. 



Sophal said that in a video clip recorded by the CBN TV in Australia, Sokha confessed about his relations with foreign states and foreign agents which were teaching and helping him to prepare a plot to create a “colour revolution” in Cambodia aimed at overthrowing the government through undemocratic means.  

He said that from 1993 to 2017 (before his arrest), Sokha and former CNRP president Sam Rainsy have plotted to go against the government. They used to incite people, especially garment workers and the armed forces personnel to go against and overthrow government noted that the colour revolution plot and the activities of both Sokha and Rainsy in attempting to overthrow the government had failed. 

“Based on the real evidence in this case, the court’s prosecutor has enough evidence to place the burden of proof on the accused that he plotted a colour revolution in Cambodia,” said Sophal.  

 “The accused Kem Sokha’s activities had violated Article 443 of the Cambodian Criminal Code which shall be punishable with imprisonment of 15 to 30 years,” he said. “Therefore, on behalf of the court’s prosecutor, I would like to ask the Judges’ Council to strongly punish him by the laws.”

Government lawyer Ky Tech yesterday submitted an 86-page document of conclusions to the Judges’ Council.  

Ky said that the 86 pages described Sokha’s mistakes (activities) and the damage caused by violent demonstrations organised by Sokha and Rainsy between 1993 and 2017.   


The government’s lawyers Tech, Ly Chantola, Cheng Penghap and Sann Chuoy took turns over three-and-a-half hours to read the document. 

“On behalf of the government lawyers, I would like to ask the Judges’ Council to strongly punish the accused Kem Sokha by the laws,” said Tech. 

He added that the government lawyers would file a civil suit against Sokha to pay for the damage caused by the former CNRP leaders after Sokha’s verdict becomes effective.  

Sokha, 68, was charged with “Conspiracy with a Foreign Power” under Article 443 of the Criminal Code.  He was arrested on September 3, 2017. 

A verdict is expected on March 3, 2023.

 

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