NEC plans bid to fine Sam Rainsy for slur

Written by Mom Kunthear

Thursday, 27 November 2008 Phnom Penh Post

THE National Election Committee will lodge a complaint with the municipal court to force opposition Sam Rainsy Party President Sam Rainsy to pay millions of riels in fines for calling CPP leaders "thieves" during the election campaign, officials said Wednesday. The NEC attempted to dock money from Sam Rainsy's salary for his campaign slur earlier this month but failed in parliament because it was deemed illegal. "We are now turning to the court once more and arranging to lodge a complaint to make Sam Rainsy pay 10 million riels (US$2,500) in fines," said NEC Secretary General Tep Nitha. "It is illegal to cut a parliamentarian's salary, so we told the NEC to take action to the court," CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said. SRP spokesman and lawmaker Son Chhay told the Post Wednesday that the party had not heard about the NEC's new complaint, but said it was not concerned. "We are not worried about this. We did not recognise the result of NEC's decision [justifying the CPP's complaint]," he said, adding that there is nothing to lodge a complaint about. "We have not seen anything written in electoral law that allows NEC to take this case to the court, that's why we are not worried." However, Son Chhay said that SRP will look for a lawyer if the case is confirmed. NEC officials on Wednesday could not say on what date they will file the complaint to the court.