By Khmerization
Source: RFA
The Svay Rieng Provincial Court has sentenced a Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) commune councillor to 6 months jail on charge of destruction of private property, reports Radio Free Asia.
Mr. Kong An, 59, SRP councillor for Svay Tiep district, who was in jail since his arrest on 1st October 2009, was sentenced on 20th January to 6 months jail and fined 100,000 riels ($25) for cutting 30 palm leaves belonging to Mrs. Sok Sarom who is the sister-in-law of Judge Phong Samon, the judge who sentenced Mr. Kong An to jail term.
Mr. Meas Kheng, an SRP councillor from Svay Rieng, said the judge's decision to jail his colleague is a political crackdown. "For serious (criminal) cases, we've never seen the court take any actions to try them. At the end, for Kong An's case, if we think about 30 palm leaves it might cost about 30,000-40,000 riels ($8-$10) but he was ordered arrestd by Judge Phong Samon who is the brother-in-law of the plaintiff. This is a (political) threat to silence the opposition politicians with just any small pretexts", he said.
An investigator from the human rights group Adhoc based in Svay Rieng who spoke on condition of anonimity, said the case is very minor that does not warrant any jail term. "The court should not detain (jail) him like that because the case is a non-issue and his action should not lead to a jail term", he said.
The Svay Rieng Court had sentenced Mr. Kong An to jail term at the same time as when it sentenced two farmers who, along with opposition leader Sam Rainsy, pulled out 6 wooden border markers planted in the middle of their rice fields on 25th October 2009. The court has also issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Sam Rainsy who is currently staying in exile in France.
Source: RFA
The Svay Rieng Provincial Court has sentenced a Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) commune councillor to 6 months jail on charge of destruction of private property, reports Radio Free Asia.
Mr. Kong An, 59, SRP councillor for Svay Tiep district, who was in jail since his arrest on 1st October 2009, was sentenced on 20th January to 6 months jail and fined 100,000 riels ($25) for cutting 30 palm leaves belonging to Mrs. Sok Sarom who is the sister-in-law of Judge Phong Samon, the judge who sentenced Mr. Kong An to jail term.
Mr. Meas Kheng, an SRP councillor from Svay Rieng, said the judge's decision to jail his colleague is a political crackdown. "For serious (criminal) cases, we've never seen the court take any actions to try them. At the end, for Kong An's case, if we think about 30 palm leaves it might cost about 30,000-40,000 riels ($8-$10) but he was ordered arrestd by Judge Phong Samon who is the brother-in-law of the plaintiff. This is a (political) threat to silence the opposition politicians with just any small pretexts", he said.
An investigator from the human rights group Adhoc based in Svay Rieng who spoke on condition of anonimity, said the case is very minor that does not warrant any jail term. "The court should not detain (jail) him like that because the case is a non-issue and his action should not lead to a jail term", he said.
The Svay Rieng Court had sentenced Mr. Kong An to jail term at the same time as when it sentenced two farmers who, along with opposition leader Sam Rainsy, pulled out 6 wooden border markers planted in the middle of their rice fields on 25th October 2009. The court has also issued an arrest warrant against Mr. Sam Rainsy who is currently staying in exile in France.
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