DAP News
A Cambodian government defense lawyer on Wednesday said Moeung Son (pictured), the Chairman of Khmer Civilization Foundation, would have to do more than apologize to nullify his conviction for defamation and disinformation.
King Sihamoni may now be the only person who can save by royal pardon Moeung Son from the fine and prison term handed down by Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
A recent letter from Moeung Son has done little to improve the situation, a prosecutor told DAP News Cambodia on Wednesday. “So far, we have not decided yet whether his letter is a conviction request letter or an apology. If it is an apology, it should have come before the court’s verdict,” Pal Chandara said. “The verdict was declared already, therefore, if the defendant disagreed with the decision, he should file complaint to the Phnom Penh Appeals Court.”
“If he is requesting forgiveness, he should call upon the King.”
Moeung Son, who has dual nationality, fled to France, following the court’s sentence of 2 years in jail and a fine of CR7 million. In addition, he will also need to pay another CR8 million to the Apsara Authority.
Moeung Son could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
However, according to his letter dated August 13, 2009 and sent from France, he very kindly asked for forgiveness and acceptance from Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, also Minister of the Ministry for Council. Moeung Son also asked for a positive intervention from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to pave the way for him to return safety and further the development of society. His letter is unlikely to be construed by the Government as an apology as a statement sent to the Deputy Prime Minister had already denied his guilt, Pal Chandara told DAP News Cambodia.
Moeung Son previously claimed that, “I will not flee anywhere even though I hold a French passport.”
“Though he disagreed with the Government’s measure, he vowed to face with the court,” Pal Chandara noted. “If the Government sued me [Moeung Son wrote], other reporters and journalists should be sued and face complaints.”
Moeung Son’s defense lawyer said that, “My client was not willing to stay as he was expected to be found guilty.”
“At this time we ask for the conviction to be lifted by the Government, as the court’s verdict is not declared completely yet,” Som Sokong said. “I am still waiting for a new decision from my client and if the Majesty King forgives my client, I will withdraw my filed complaint at the Appeal Court.”
However, a Government lawyer said Moeung Son must face the punishments already imposed by the court.
Khieu Kahnarith, Cambodian Government spokesman, on Wednesday told DAP News Cambodia that “Deputy Prime Minster Sok An could not accept” Moueng Son’s remarks.
“It depends upon the deputy prime minister Sok An for forgiveness in this case,” he added.
“Moeung Son’s case is … a ruling of the court,” Phai Siphan, a Council of Ministers (CoM) spokesman said on Wednesday.
Moeung Son was convicted in absentia of spreading disinformation and defamation after remarks he made during a press conference.
Moeung Sonn sent a letter to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen about the case.
“I would kindly request an intervention from the PM by asking the government’s lawyer, Pal Chandara, to withdraw the controversial lawsuit against me, which is an unfair judgment in the court over the case of disinformation over lighting at Angkor Wat,” Moeung Son wrote in the letter.
“I strongly reject this judgment because I sent a letter to the PM on June 25, 2009 revealing my wholeheartedly love as a Khmer citizen,” he said, adding that some newspapers and media agencies reported stories over lighting, where they wrote that the installation had affected Angkor Wat’s beauty.
His remarks were apparently “also clarified by the workers, saying that this was the case,” Moeung Sonn stated in his letter. “Therefore, this event is not caused by my activity. I heard and saw about it in a Cambodian newspaper, Reaksmey Kampuchea published on June 24-25, 2009.”
A Cambodian government defense lawyer on Wednesday said Moeung Son (pictured), the Chairman of Khmer Civilization Foundation, would have to do more than apologize to nullify his conviction for defamation and disinformation.
King Sihamoni may now be the only person who can save by royal pardon Moeung Son from the fine and prison term handed down by Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
A recent letter from Moeung Son has done little to improve the situation, a prosecutor told DAP News Cambodia on Wednesday. “So far, we have not decided yet whether his letter is a conviction request letter or an apology. If it is an apology, it should have come before the court’s verdict,” Pal Chandara said. “The verdict was declared already, therefore, if the defendant disagreed with the decision, he should file complaint to the Phnom Penh Appeals Court.”
“If he is requesting forgiveness, he should call upon the King.”
Moeung Son, who has dual nationality, fled to France, following the court’s sentence of 2 years in jail and a fine of CR7 million. In addition, he will also need to pay another CR8 million to the Apsara Authority.
Moeung Son could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
However, according to his letter dated August 13, 2009 and sent from France, he very kindly asked for forgiveness and acceptance from Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, also Minister of the Ministry for Council. Moeung Son also asked for a positive intervention from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to pave the way for him to return safety and further the development of society. His letter is unlikely to be construed by the Government as an apology as a statement sent to the Deputy Prime Minister had already denied his guilt, Pal Chandara told DAP News Cambodia.
Moeung Son previously claimed that, “I will not flee anywhere even though I hold a French passport.”
“Though he disagreed with the Government’s measure, he vowed to face with the court,” Pal Chandara noted. “If the Government sued me [Moeung Son wrote], other reporters and journalists should be sued and face complaints.”
Moeung Son’s defense lawyer said that, “My client was not willing to stay as he was expected to be found guilty.”
“At this time we ask for the conviction to be lifted by the Government, as the court’s verdict is not declared completely yet,” Som Sokong said. “I am still waiting for a new decision from my client and if the Majesty King forgives my client, I will withdraw my filed complaint at the Appeal Court.”
However, a Government lawyer said Moeung Son must face the punishments already imposed by the court.
Khieu Kahnarith, Cambodian Government spokesman, on Wednesday told DAP News Cambodia that “Deputy Prime Minster Sok An could not accept” Moueng Son’s remarks.
“It depends upon the deputy prime minister Sok An for forgiveness in this case,” he added.
“Moeung Son’s case is … a ruling of the court,” Phai Siphan, a Council of Ministers (CoM) spokesman said on Wednesday.
Moeung Son was convicted in absentia of spreading disinformation and defamation after remarks he made during a press conference.
Moeung Sonn sent a letter to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen about the case.
“I would kindly request an intervention from the PM by asking the government’s lawyer, Pal Chandara, to withdraw the controversial lawsuit against me, which is an unfair judgment in the court over the case of disinformation over lighting at Angkor Wat,” Moeung Son wrote in the letter.
“I strongly reject this judgment because I sent a letter to the PM on June 25, 2009 revealing my wholeheartedly love as a Khmer citizen,” he said, adding that some newspapers and media agencies reported stories over lighting, where they wrote that the installation had affected Angkor Wat’s beauty.
His remarks were apparently “also clarified by the workers, saying that this was the case,” Moeung Sonn stated in his letter. “Therefore, this event is not caused by my activity. I heard and saw about it in a Cambodian newspaper, Reaksmey Kampuchea published on June 24-25, 2009.”
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