Sentences reduced in attempted murder case



Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court yesterday upheld the conviction of three men accused of attempted murder, but reduced their sentences to six years in prison for beating and inflicting grievous harm to a 22-year-old-man over a drug deal in Battambang province in 2018.

Presiding Judge Ky Rithy named the accused as Sao Tha, male, 25; Vuthy Reaksmey, male, 22; and Chhorn Roeun, male, 23. The three are construction workers residing in Siri Meanchey commune in Battambang Province’s Sampov Loun district.

Judge Rithy identified the victim as Chhuon Sdeoung, construction worker living in the same commune as the accused. The accused and the victim were friends and also drug users.

The accused were sentenced in 2020 by the Battambang Provincial Court to 10 years in prison on the charge of “attempted murder”.   

On February 5, 2018, the accused gave money to the victim to buy drugs, and when the victim bought the drugs he kept a small package of methamphetamine (ice) for his personal use.

When the accused discovered that the victim had kept some ice for himself they became angry and planned to punish him as a warning.




At about 9:30 pm on February 10, 2018, the accused called the victim and organised to meet at a Buddhist temple called “Tuol Krasaing Pagoda” in Tuol Krasaing village, saying that they wanted the victim to buy more drugs.

When the victim arrived for at the Pagoda, they hacked him many times with an axe and a piece of steel, inflicting serious injuries. After the attack, they fled.

The victim was later rescued by police and sent to the hospital for immediate treatment.”

He added that the accused were arrested on February 13, and police seized an axe and a piece of steel from them.

Battambang Provincial Court on March 10, 2020 sentenced the accused to 10 years in prison each and ordered them to jointly pay 20 million riels ($5,000) in compensation to the victim.

They were charged with “accomplice in attempted murder” under Articles 27 and 199 of the Criminal Code. 

However, they appealed to the Phnom Penh Appeal Court.

“After considering the ruling of the Battambang Provincial Court, the Phnom Penh Appeal Court has decided to change the accused’s charges from ‘attempted murder’ under the Article 199 of the Criminal Code to ‘intentional violence with aggravating circumstances’ under Article of 218 and reduced their sentence from  10 years in prison to four years,” Judge Rithy said.

The victim, Chhuon Sdoeung, said that he will appeal to the Supreme Court.




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