Court of Appeal declares Champei Khmao a rehabilitated man

 

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court has deemed Yin Heng alias “Champei Khmao” as a rehabilitated person.

The move will enable the 27-year-old, who was convicted in 2019 on incitement charges and jailed two years, to reintegrate with society as a normal person and his criminal record erased. 

Presiding Judge Suos Sam Ath said yesterday that Heng had not committed any crime after his released from prison on Feb 6, 2020.   

“Yin Heng has stated to the court that he would resolve to become a new person, a good citizen, and that he will continue to study the law in order to become a lawyer or legal expert.


“The Phnom Penh Appeal Court's Criminal Chamber believes that Yin Heng or Champei Khmao has the necessary credentials and education to be awarded rehabilitation,” Judge Sam Arth said.

“Therefore, the Criminal Chamber of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court  grants Yin Heng rehabilitation as requested,” he said. 

When met outside of court, Yin Heng expressed his happiness and said that ever since being released from jail, he resumed his legal studies at Phnom Penh's Royal University of Rules.  

“I graduated from Royal University of Rules with a Bachelor of Laws after completing my legal education. 

“I am now applying for legal training at the Centre for Lawyers Training and Legal Professional Improvement Lawyers Training Centre of the Bar Association of Cambodia.  

“I am most happy with the Criminal Chamber of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court decision to expunge my criminal record,” Heng said. 

Heng said his purpose now is to be a lawyer and “serve the people, especially the poor”.


Heng was convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on June 20, 2019 to two years jail but the court suspended one year of his punishment. 

Heng, of Cambodian and Vietnamese heritage was charged with “incitement to discriminate” under Article 596 of the Criminal Code for posting a video clip of him degrading the Khmer society.

 

 

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