Law and judiciary
Legal and judicial system
Judge’s past offers little hope for real reform
In the highest-profile sacking since Prime Minister Hun Sen promised to rid the government of corruption after the CPP’s shock losses in the July 2013 election, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s chief judge was removed this week amid claims that millions of dollars had reversed ...
Alex Willemyns and Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/judges-past-offers-little-hope-for-real-reform-78371/
Thai army says it’s too early to lay blame for loggers’ deaths
Thailand’s army has asked Cambodia “not to jump [to] the conclusion” that its soldiers were to blame for the deaths of three Cambodian loggers who were shot dead earlier this month while searching for rosewood across the border, according to Thai media. ...
Ousted judge given position in Justice Ministry
Former Phnom Penh Municipal Court director Ang Mealaktei, who was ousted Tuesday amid claims of corruption at the court, was granted a new position in the Ministry of Justice during the ceremony to replace him on Wednesday. ...
Khy Sovuthy and Alex Willemyns
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ousted-judge-given-position-in-justice-ministry-78262/
Prosecutor accused of ‘threats’ to Singaporean
A senior Phnom Penh Municipal Court official has been accused of threatening a Singaporean businessman in an attempt to pressure him into confessing to a crime he did not commit. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/prosecutor-accused-threats-singaporean
Phnom Penh’s top judge ousted amid graft claims
Phnom Penh Municipal Court director Ang Mealaktei was removed from his position on Tuesday pending an investigation into rampant corruption at the court since he became its chief judge less than a year ago. The decision was made public hours after Prime Minister Hun Sen criticized ...
Alex Willemyns, Khy Sovuthy and Hul Reaksmey
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/phnom-penhs-top-judge-ousted-amid-graft-claims-78159/
Teddy Bear drug smuggler denies charges during trial
A year after a Vietnamese man was caught trying to mail teddy bears stuffed with the drug precursor chemical pseudoephedrine to Australia from Phnom Penh, he appeared in court on Tuesday over another alleged drug smuggling scheme. ...
Hay Pisey
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/teddy-bear-drug-smuggler-denies-charges-during-trial-78173/
Hun Sen calls for urgent measure against judge releasing tycoon Thong Sarath’s parents
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday has proposed the Supreme Council of Magistracy to take urgent measure on a judge responsible for releasing parents of fugitive Thong Sarath on bail. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://bit.ly/1L9D5Hh
Chief of Phnom Penh Court replaced amid murder scandal
The chief judge at Phnom Penh Municipal Court has replaced, in a shake-up at the behest of Prime Minister Hun Sen, as the court pursues an ongoing murder investigation. Hours after Hun Sen’s order, the chief of Phnom Penh’s court, Ang Maldey, was fired and ...
Heng Reaksmey,
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/chief-of-phnom-penh-court-replaced-amid-murder-scandal/2647394.html
Ten-year sentences follow 1kg meth bust
Five men were sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday for selling nearly 1 kilogram of crystal methamphetamine to undercover police officers in the capital’s Tuol Kork district last April. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http:/http://www.phnompenhpost.com/ten-year-sentences-follow-1kg-meth-bust
Sam Rainsy asks government to let outspoken activist stay
Opposition CNRP president Sam Rainsy on Monday weighed in on behalf of environmental activist Alex Gonzalez-Davidson, asking the Interior Ministry to reverse a decision to not renew the Spanish national’s visa over a traffic incident from September. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/sam-rainsy-asks-government-to-let-outspoken-activist-stay-78095/
Opposition slams Thai gov’t
More than a dozen opposition party officials have accused Thailand of encouraging extrajudicial killings of Cambodians along the border. In a strongly worded letter sent to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday, the Cambodia National Rescue Party MPs asked for an independent investigation into an ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/opposition-slams-thai-govt
Opposition slams Thai gov’t
More than a dozen opposition party officials have accused Thailand of encouraging extrajudicial killings of Cambodians along the border. In a strongly worded letter sent to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday, the Cambodia National Rescue Party MPs asked for an independent investigation into an ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/opposition-slams-thai-govt
Ministry of Justice plans to create Court of Appeals in provinces
The Ministry of Justice plans to create Court of Appeals in seven provinces to help citizens reduce their expenses, an official said Thursday. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/justice-ministry-plans-to-create-appeal-court-in-provinces-8183
Assembly official accused of gross misspending
The National Assembly’s banking and finance commission decided on Wednesday to summon Leng Peng Long, parliament’s chief administrative official, for questioning over claims of nepotism and alleged spending irregularities including $25,000 spent on a flagpole, the commission’s deputy chairman said. ...
Alex Willemyns and Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/assembly-official-accused-of-gross-misspending-77824/
Prisoners deny trafficking drugs in Prey Sar
Two of three men charged with using and trafficking methamphetamine inside the maximum-security Prey Sar prison denied the trafficking allegation during their trial at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday. ...
Hay Pisey and Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prisoners-deny-trafficking-drugs-in-prey-sar-77845/
Land dispute hearing delayed due to illness
Evictees at war with their former representative filed a complaint yesterday with the Ministry of Justice after the woman at the centre of the argument managed to put off a court hearing, allegedly going to the disputed site instead. Forty villagers went to the Justice ...
Kim Sarom
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/land-dispute-hearing-delayed-due-illness
Murder plot suspect back before judge
Recently extradited murder suspect Lay Huong – the former common-law wife of tycoon Khaou Phallaboth – was in court again yesterday to face questioning over a new set of charges levelled by her ex-husband. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/murder-plot-suspect-back-judge
Despite show of force, pagoda visit peaceful
Deputy Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng on Tuesday reversed course on a City Hall announcement that it was investigating Wat Samakki Raingsey over alleged anti-government behavior and secessionist designs, comments that sparked fears among its monks that the independent-minded pagoda would be shut down. During a ...
Mech Dara and Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/despite-show-of-force-pagoda-visit-peaceful-77721/
Former teacher denies child sex abuse charges
An Australian teacher charged with sexually abusing six young boys claimed during the first day of his trial at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court Tuesday that an anti-pedophile NGO framed him. George Moussallie, 52, a former English teacher at the American Pacific School in Phnom Penh, ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/former-teacher-denies-child-sex-abuse-charges-77739/
Uncertainty over death of activist
Rights group Adhoc is investigating the death of an opposition party activist this weekend in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town. ...
Chhay Channyda and Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/uncertainty-over-death-activist
Suspect in tycoon’s murder questioned
Seang Veasna, the suspected gunman in the murder of Ung Meng Cheu allegedly orchestrated by fugitive tycoon Thong Sarath, was questioned again at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday regarding his whereabouts on the night of the November 2014 shooting. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/suspect-tycoons-murder-questioned
Released: Parents of hiding tycoon out on bail
The parents of fugitive tycoon Thong Sarath were released on bail over the weekend after complaining of ill health, a court official said. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/released-parents-hiding-tycoon-out-bail
Freedom of prisoner offered for cash: police
A 52-year-old woman was charged with fraud by the Tbong Khmum Provincial Court on Saturday for allegedly cheating a man out of more than $15,000 by promising to use the money and her connections to secure the release of his son from prison, police said ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/freedom-prisoner-offered-cash-police
British fraudster’s appeal dismissed by court
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the latest appeal by jailed British businessman Gregg Fryett to have his trial for fraud delayed because he failed to file his appeal request within the permitted timeframe. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/british-fraudsters-appeal-dismissed-by-court-77554/