Appeal Court upholds sentences for 5 current, former ADHOC members


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court on May, 2022 upheld a ruling that sentenced three current and two former members of the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) to five years in prison for bribery.

The five were accused of allegedly bribing the 23-year-old mistress of former CNRP President Kem Sokha for $200 in exchange for not testifying in the Sokha sex scandal case in 2016.

Court Presiding Judge Sin Visal stated that the accused were identified as Ny Sokha, Yi Soksan, Lim Mony, Nay Vongda, and Ny Chakrya.

Judge Visal said that they all were sentenced on September 26, 2017, by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to five years in prison, but the term of their sentence was reduced to 14 months in prison, with the remainder of the sentence suspended.

He said that they were charged with “bribery of a witness” under Article 548 of the Criminal Code, but refuted the sentence and took the case to the Appeal Court.

“Based on specific evidence in the case and after clear consideration, the Judges’ Council of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court found the accused guilty in this case,” Judge Visal said.

“The Phnom Penh Appeal Court considered that the sentence handed out by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court was the lowest and appropriate considering the crime they had committed,” he said, adding that “Therefore, the Phnom Penh Appeal Court has decided to uphold the sentence dated September 26, 2017, given by the Municipal Court.”

Judge Visal recommended the accused appeal to the Supreme Court if they cannot accept the ruling.

According to court’s document, the five accused were arrested on April 27, 2016, by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

They were arrested after they had allegedly paid $200 to Khom Daraty, also known as Sreymom, a mistress of Kem Sokha, in exchange for not testifying in court over the Sokha sex scandal case in 2016.

They were released from prison on June 29, 2017.

None of the accused could be reached for comment yesterday.

ADHOC spokesman Phin Savey said yesterday that the court’s ruling was unfair for the three current and two former ADHOC members because they did not commit any crime.

Savey said ADHOC works and provides services free of charge to all the people without political discrimination.

“I think that the Phnom Penh Appeal Court should overturn the ruling of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and drop the charge against the three current and two former ADHOC members because they didn’t commit any crime,” Savey told Khmer Times yesterday.

“They will file an appeal with the Supreme Court to seek justice,” he said.







//END//

 


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