Businessman’s Son Has Prison Sentence Cut
The Court of Appeal has reduced to six months the original three-and-a-half-year prison term handed to the son of a wealthy businessman for pistol-whipping a man and damaging restaurant property. Duong Udomchorvin, 24, was sentenced in May, along with his 17-year-old brother, Duong Kimlong, who was given a five-month suspended sentence, for taking part in a brawl in a Chamkar Mon district restaurant during which property was destroyed and a man suffered head injuries after being pistol whipped with the butt of a pistol. … “The Appeal Court decided to reduce the sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison to six months in prison, and the remainder of the sentence will be under probation,” court clerk Seng Sokun said Monday. Because of time already served, that means he could be free as soon as next month. Ms. Sokun said the compensation owed to the proprietor of the restaurant, which was originally set at 40 million riel (about $9,800), was also cut by half, adding that the verdict had been announced on Friday. … Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor for rights group Licadho, said Mr. Udomchorvin had got off lightly because of his connections. “It’s because he is the son of a rich person,” he said. “People who have power always have influence over the court.”
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/businessmans-son-has-prison-sentence-cut-43055/
