Trial of Minister’s Wife Opens Without Plaintiffs
Opening statements started yesterday in a trial pitting Kompong Chhnang province villagers against the wife of Minister of Industry Suy Sem over a long-standing land dispute. However, the plaintiffs and human rights workers monitoring the trial criticized yesterday’s proceedings, which were allowed to proceed despite the villagers’ lawyers being unable to attend. Presiding Judge Tieng Sotha confirmed that the trial was held, but declined to comment when asked why the court hearing went ahead without the plaintiffs or their lawyers’ participation. …
