Mu Sochua talking to reporters outside the Apeal Court.PHNOM PENH, Oct 28 (AFP) - Cambodia's Appeal Court on Wednesday upheld the conviction of an outspoken opposition party lawmaker for defaming the country's powerful Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mu Sochua of the Sam Rainsy Party was convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August for defaming Hun Sen during an April press conference, in which she announced plans to sue the premier for allegedly insulting her.
The court also ordered her to pay more than 4,000 dollars in a fine and compensation to Hun Sen.
After a Wednesday appeal hearing, judge Seng Sivutha said the court decided to uphold the conviction, ruling that Mu Sochua did defame Hun Sen and "incited other women to hate" the premier.
But Mu Sochua told reporters she would appeal the case to the country's supreme court because the ruling was "totally politically motivated."
Her party also issued a statement denouncing the appeal ruling as "a mockery of justice."
"The Appeal Court, ignoring principles of fair trial, blindly affirmed the decision of the municipal court," said the statement.
The Cambodian administration has been heavily criticised by rights groups over the past year for launching a spate of defamation and disinformation lawsuits against critics and opposition members.
New York-based Human Rights Watch recently accused Hun Sen's government of aiming to silence political opposition and critics with a "campaign of harassment, threats, and unwarranted legal action."
Hun Sen has also warned government critics that they risked facing legal action if they called the country a "dictatorial regime". (AFP)
Mu Sochua of the Sam Rainsy Party was convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August for defaming Hun Sen during an April press conference, in which she announced plans to sue the premier for allegedly insulting her.
The court also ordered her to pay more than 4,000 dollars in a fine and compensation to Hun Sen.
After a Wednesday appeal hearing, judge Seng Sivutha said the court decided to uphold the conviction, ruling that Mu Sochua did defame Hun Sen and "incited other women to hate" the premier.
But Mu Sochua told reporters she would appeal the case to the country's supreme court because the ruling was "totally politically motivated."
Her party also issued a statement denouncing the appeal ruling as "a mockery of justice."
"The Appeal Court, ignoring principles of fair trial, blindly affirmed the decision of the municipal court," said the statement.
The Cambodian administration has been heavily criticised by rights groups over the past year for launching a spate of defamation and disinformation lawsuits against critics and opposition members.
New York-based Human Rights Watch recently accused Hun Sen's government of aiming to silence political opposition and critics with a "campaign of harassment, threats, and unwarranted legal action."
Hun Sen has also warned government critics that they risked facing legal action if they called the country a "dictatorial regime". (AFP)
No comments:
Post a Comment