Court accepts voice clip as fresh evidence against Sokha

 


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Judges’ Council of Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday officially included the latest controversial voice clip submitted by the prosecutor as a fresh proof against Kem Sokha, the former president of the court dissolved Cambodian National Rescued Party [CNRP]. 

Yesterday was 52nd hearing in a case related to Sokha allegedly conspired with foreign states or agents to overthrow the government between 1993 and 2017.

The court witnessed heated arguments the prosecutors and Kem Sokha and his co-defense lawyers. 

The deputy prosecutor Plong Sophal said that the latest inculpatory evidence proves Sokha’s relationship with Ho Vann, former chief of steering committees of CNRP, who organised violent demonstrations near pagoda at Stung Meanchey commune, and at Veng Sreng Street on January 2-4, 2013. 

Sophal said that based on Vann’s confession in a phone communication made in 2019, Sokha was the mastermind of the demonstrations which led to burning of a police car and looting in Stung Meanchey commune and destruction and looting of a private clinic at Veng Sreng Street. 

In the voice recording Vann was heard saying, “I was a mastermind and the organiser of the big demonstration in Stung Meanchey commune, in January 2013. I had brought many garment workers from various garment factories to attend the demonstrations and to go against the authorities. I had ordered the protesters to block other main roads in Phnom Penh.” 

In the voice record, Vann was also heard reporting about the progress of the demonstrations to Sokha who was the then vice-president of the party. 

Sokha denied the allegations and said urged the court to verify the authenticity of the clip. He also requested the court to summon Van for a testimony. 

The hearing will continue on August 31.

 

 

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