Candlelight Party’s commune chief Nhim Sarom released on court bail


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 in Trapaing Chor village on October 31, 2002, and left with a generator and some of the victim’s belongings. 

Col Sam added that the businessman was also assaulted by the six suspects.

“Police arrested Sarom on Tuesday over this matter and we are looking for the other five suspects,” Col Sam said. 

CP’s vice-president Thach Setha described Sarom’s arrest as political persecution. 

The government, he claimed, was moving to get rid of elected opposition party commune councilors. 

Setha said Sarom was a former Sam Rainsy’s activist and was elected as Chamna Loeu commune councilor in 2012. 

Sarom won the Chamna Loeu commune deputy chief post under Cambodian National  Rescue Party in the 2017 elections. 

“Sarom is a priest and a popular person in Chamna Loeu commune. He is a good person and highly regarded by the people and that is why he won in the recent election,” Setha said. 



According to Setha, Sarom took the generator from the businessman because the man owed Sarom money and did not pay him back. 

“The reason why Sarom took the generator was because he wanted the businessman to settle his debt. Sarom did not take the generator back to his house but kept it in the Chamna Loeu commune hall,” Setha said.

He said the businessman reported the matter but the two parties later settled the dispute at the commune hall. 

“Sarom has been living and serving the commune since that day. He did not flee and he has never received any court’s summon or served with an arrest warrant. 

“This matter happened 20 years ago and that is why we see this as politically motivated more than law enforcement,” he said. 

Sarom’s wife Khat Sotheang, 48, said Sarom was a farmer who cared for the people. 

“Besides working as a farmer and commune councilor, my husband is a priest and many people liked him because he is a good man,” she said. 

“I do not believe he is a robber as accused,” she added.  



Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) spokesman Soeung Sen Kakruna said Sarom’s arrest was politically motivated because it happened after he was elected as Chamna Loeu commune chief in the elections.

“That is why we, the civil society organisations, consider this case is politically motivated and is not law enforcement.

“This is why there is criticism from civil society organizations, the public and the international community for the violation of human rights in Cambodia,” he said. 

He said that the civil society organizations would monitor Sarom’s case to ensure compliance with human rights as well as the law.  












 

 

 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Laotian gets life for drug trafficking

Image
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has sentenced a Laotian drug trafficker to life imprisonment after the 42-year-old was convicted of trafficking about 7 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Presiding Judge Sin Sovannroath said Houa Choua was from Champasak province’s Moeung Khong district, Laos.     “The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to sentence the accused Houa Choua to a life sentence and a fine of 100 million riels,” Judge Sovannroath said in his judgment yesterday.   He said that the accused was charged with “drug possessing, transport and trafficking” under Article 40 of Cambodian Law on Drugs Control and with “money Laundering” under Articles 38 of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Financing.   Judge Sovannroath stated that Houa Choua was arrested by police at a guesthouse in Por Senchey district’s Kakab commune on October 16, 2022, night.  Houa Choua was detained after he had transported the drugs by car from the Cambodia-Lao border in
Read more

Sorn Elit, the Tallest Cambodian Taekwando Champion

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA There are 18 Taekwondo fighters on the national team, according to Hem Samnang, Secretary General of the Cambodian Taekwondo Federation (CTF). He was speaking to The Southeast Asia Weekly on July 22. The Secretary General said that Sorn Elit, 22, is currently the best Taekwondo fighter in Cambodia. He has attended many competitions both at home and abroad and has achieved success in both fields. In 2008, he won the national heavyweight title in the Taekwondo championships. “I am very proud of Sorn Elit as he is the best fighter in Cambodia,” Samnang said. “I believe that he will continue to bring honor to the country, the sport and himself as he competes in still more competitions at home and in the international fighting arena. He is completely committed to his training schedule and is a credit to the sport.” The Secretary General said that to improve Elit’s skills, the CTF sent him to get Taekwondo training in South Korea over two weeks in 2007. The CTF plans
Read more

Chan Tra: Life of a Cambodian Traditional Tattoo Artist

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Among tattooists in Cambodia, Chan Tra, 46, is the only tattoo artist to retain the ability to ink a wide range of subjects in different styles. His modern counterparts are limited in their repertoire in comparison. His subjects include the human form, birds and abstract patterns. Chan Tra is now an expert in drawing Ankor Wat on the skin of foreign clients, thus turning them into walking, talking promotional materials for Cambodia’s tourist sector. Chan Tra was born in 1963 in Sihanouk province and has two sons and one daughter. He is an orphaned and a Survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. He lost his entire family during the years of terror between 1975 and 1979. “I have loved drawing and painting ever since I was a child and practised my art every day before the arrival of the Pol Pot regime. Consequently, I like the art of tattooing and it makes a solid source of income to keep my wife and kids happy,” he told The Southeast Asia Weekly during a personal i
Read more