Court Refuses to Investigate Complaint Over Police Shooting

A student who filed a complaint to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against the city’s municipal and military police chiefs over the fatal police shooting at the SL Garment Factory protest on November 12 said Tuesday that the court has refused to investigate his complaint. Neang Sokhun, a 25-year-old law student, said a court official had told him that his complaint, which concerns the shooting death by police of 49-year-old street food vendor Eng Sokhom, had been sent instead to the National Police for investigation. “The court seemed to ignore my case and not take it seriously. They said they sent the case to the National Police and that they will wait for the police to investigate first,” said Mr. Sokhun, who is also a member of the opposition CNRP’s youth organization. … Mr. Sokhun’s legal complaint against municipal police chief Chuon Sovann and municipal military police chief Lieutenant General Roth Srean cites Article 204 of the Penal Code in accusing the pair of being responsible for Eng Sokhom’s death. Article 204 of the Penal Code pertains to “murder committed by public officials…in the performance of his or her duties or in connection therewith.” One of the victims of the police shooting, Ty Sophanith, 31, who was shot through the leg and arm, said that two people—one wearing civilian clothes and one wearing a white National Police uniform—had come to his room at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital around 3 p.m. Tuesday. …

Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/court-refuses-to-investigate-complaint-over-police-shooting-47944/