Law and judiciary
Legal and judicial system
Cambodia to soon establish juvenile prison: Social Affairs
A sub-decree establishing Cambodia’s first juvenile prison will be issued by the start of September, Minister of Social Affairs Vong Soth told United Nations Special Rapporteur Rhona Smith on Wednesday. ...
Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-soon-establish-juvenile-prison-social-affairs
Kim Sok gets 18 months and must pay $200K in compensation to CPP
Political commentator Kim Sok was sentenced to 18 months in prison this afternoon on charges of incitement and defamation for appearing to suggest that the ruling party was behind the killing of popular analyst Kem Ley. ...
Niem Chheng and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/kim-sok-gets-18-months-and-must-pay-200k-compensation-cpp
Minister seeks courts reform
The Justice Minister has urged court officials to work independently, responsibly and ethically to strengthen the judicial system and improve public trust of the judiciary. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5075899/minister-seeks-courts-reform/
Vanny maintains innocence
Jailed activist Tep Vanny yesterday maintained her innocence and called on the judge to overturn her conviction in a hearing at the Appeal Court yesterday, as about 80 protesters demonstrated for her release outside. ...
Niem Chheng and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vanny-maintains-innocence
Prison Sentences Handed Down in Mondolkiri Child Torture Case
The Mondolkiri Provincial Court this morning sentenced Dutch man Stefan Struik, 53, to two years in prison for helping his Vietnamese boyfriend, Nguyen Thanh Dung, 34, flee the country after videos of Mr. Nguyen torturing a 2-year-old Cambodian boy were posted on Facebook. ...
Phan Soumy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/breakingnews/prison-sentences-handed-mondolkiri-child-torture-case-132490/
Suspected sand exports to VN stopped in Mondulkiri
The Mondulkiri Provincial Court and mines and energy officials said they are investigating illegal sand exports to Vietnam following the questioning of four people who were intercepted yesterday by authorities driving truckloads of sand toward the eastern border. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/suspected-sand-exports-vietnam-stopped-mondulkiri
11 Mondolkiri top brass fingered in timber probe
A court investigation into illegal timber trafficking has targeted 11 provincial officials—including Mondolkiri’s heads of the military and military police, and potentially a court prosecutor—prompting the case’s transfer to Phnom Penh at the request of the justice minister, officials said on Tuesday. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/11-mkiri-top-brass-fingered-in-timber-probe-132416/
Court denies analyst Sok’s request for bail
The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a lower court’s decision to deny jailed political analyst Kim Sok’s request for bail, also rejecting his request to summons Prime Minister Hun Sen, the plaintiff in the two defamation and incitement cases that landed the analyst in detention. ...
Kim Sarom
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/court-denies-analyst-soks-request-bail
Army brass arrested in Sihanoukville
An army general in Preah Sihanouk province was arrested by Military Police officials on Tuesday after the provincial court ordered he be taken into custody following allegations of land grabbing. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/army-brass-arrested-sihanoukville
Supreme court orders eco-activist’s appeal to be reheard
Environmental activist Ven Vorn has been given a second chance to have an illegal logging conviction overturned after the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered his case sent back to the Appeal Court for review. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/supreme-court-orders-eco-activists-appeal-to-be-reheard-132169/
Guilty walk free in land sale case
Two Ministry of Mines officials were convicted on corruption charges yesterday in a Phnom Penh court after confessing to selling state land, but nonetheless walked free after a judge reduced their sentences. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/guilty-walk-free-land-sale-case
Court rejects appeal of Rainsy, Hong Sok Hour
The Appeal Court yesterday upheld prison sentences for former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and two of his assistants, along with former Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) Senator Hong Sok Hour, on charges stemming from the latter’s comments on the contentious Vietnam border issue. ...
Kim Sarom and Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/court-rejects-appeal-rainsy-hong-sok-hour
‘Adhoc 5’ released on bail in case widely seen as political
In a surprise move, four human rights workers and an election official, collectively known as the “Adhoc 5”, were released from pretrial detention yesterday evening, 427 days after they were taken into custody on bribery charges relating to an opposition sex scandal. ...
Yon Sineat, Ananth Baliga and Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/adhoc-5-released-bail-case-widely-seen-political
‘Adhoc 5’ investigation concluded; trial awaits
The 13-month investigation into five current and former human rights workers known as the ‘Adhoc 5’ has ended, a court spokesman said on Wednesday, paving the way for a trial in a case widely condemned as being unjust and politically motivated. ...
Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/adhoc-5-investigation-concluded-trial-awaits-131614/
Hun Sen taunts Sam Rainsy, branding him a coward for not returning home
Prime Minister Hun Sen used a public speech yesterday to mercilessly mock former opposition leader Sam Rainsy, taunting him to make good on a promise to return to Cambodia, sarcastically referring to him as a “hero” and even singing a few bars of a classic ...
Meas Sokchea and Alex Willemyns
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-taunts-sam-rainsy-branding-him-coward-not-returning-home
‘Grandma Proeung’ in court over timber rap
In the first and only day of her trial yesterday, prominent alleged timber trader Heng Samnieng claimed that Military Police officers had tried to sell off pieces of timber confiscated by authorities in Stung Treng, where she was arrested in October while allegedly attempting to ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/grandma-proeung-court-over-timber-rap
Courts review starts
The Justice Ministry has launched a 100-day campaign to improve the court system. Ministry spokesman Chin Malin said while the system was widely regarded by outsiders as fair and without corruption, it was now time for a self-assessment to confirm its effectiveness. ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39064/courts-review-starts/
Amnesty International criticizes Country’s ‘Corrupt’ court system
Amnesty International today accused the ruling CPP of using its grip on the judiciary to systematically harass and intimidate civil society and urged the government to drop cases against opposition activists and human rights defenders. ...
George Wright and Chhorn Phearun
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/amnesty-international-criticizes-countrys-corrupt-court-system-130667/
Amnesty international criticizes country’s ‘corrupt’ court system
Amnesty International today accused the ruling CPP of using its grip on the judiciary to systematically harass and intimidate civil society and urged the government to drop cases against opposition activists and human rights defenders. ...
George Wright and Chhorn Phearun
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/amnesty-international-criticizes-countrys-corrupt-court-system-130667/
Victims of Ponzi scheme petition courts, government for assistance
About 300 victims of an alleged Ponzi scheme filed complaints with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, the Justice Ministry and the National Assembly on Monday asking for the government’s help in recouping their losses. ...
Buth Kimsay
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/victims-of-ponzi-scheme-petition-courts-government-for-assistance-129262/
Asean-China talks set for Cambodia
Cambodia will host the 20th Asean-China meeting aimed at boosting further discussions on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) which could lead to finalizing the framework of the Code of Conduct (COC). ...
Cheang Sokha
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/36998/asean-china-talks-set-for-cambodia/
Top court upholds decision to deny bail for Adhoc officials
Four senior officials for rights group Adhoc will remain behind bars after the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Court of Appeal’s ruling that they should be held in detention while awaiting trial, but gave no reason for the decision. ...
Prosecutor defends denial of bail for four Adhoc workers
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision to keep four officials from rights group Adhoc imprisoned while the court investigates their case was right “according to the law,” a Supreme Court official said on Monday during an appeal hearing. ...
Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prosecutor-defends-denial-of-bail-for-four-adhoc-workers-126208/
Court positions shuffled
The Supreme Council of the Magistracy decided yesterday to appoint or transfer 82 court officials. According to a statement released by the council and signed by its secretary-general Sam Prachea Manith, the judicial body held a vote yesterday during its 28th session while also discussing 11 ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/35925/court-positions-shuffled/