A Change of Guard

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Friday 9 July 2010

Khaou Chuly family feud stems from inheritance and wealth dispute

Khaou Chuly (far left) was seen crying face down as his wife, Seng Chantha, was being led away by police 7th July 2010.

By Khmerization
Source: Koh Sanrepheap

Sources close to tycoon Khaou Chuly, the patriarch of the Khaou family, said the recent arrest of Lady Seng Chantha, the patriarch's second wife, on allegation of attempted murder of her stepdaughter, stemmed from dispute over family inheritance and family wealth, reports Koh Santepheap.

Lady Seng Chantha, or Chanda, was arrested on the morning of Wednesday 7th July and sent to Preysor Prison on Thursday 8th July on charges that she hired people to kill Mrs. Sun Sutha, her stepdaughter and wife of Senior Minister Sun Chanthol.

Mr. Lim Vanna, lawyer representing Lady Seng Chantha, said that Oknha Khaou Chuly cried when his wife was led away by the police. The Oknha had confided to him softly that he can do nothing to help his beloved wife because this is the law.

The 81 year-old Chuly married to lady Seng Chantha for the last 15 years, but they both don't have any children together. However, Oknha Khaou Chuly had 11 children from his previous marriage, including Mrs. Sun Sutha, who was the alleged victim of the attempted murder. 48 year-old Seng Chantha was a widow with two children when she married Oknha Khaou Chuly. Khoau Chuly was already a wealthy businessman in the 1960s, but had escaped to France after Cambodia was engulfed in civil war in the 1970s. He returned to Cambodia nearly 20 years ago to re-establish his business and has thrived impressively ever since. He is the founder and currently the chairman of Khaou Chuly Group which owns many businesses.

Sources close to Lady Seng Chantha said she and her lawyer categorically denied all charges. They said the event leading to her arrest stemmed from Oknha Khaou Chuly's inheritance, when and after he died. Sources said that the Oknha is very old, but has not written any wills to distribute his wealth to his children and his second wife yet. And this causes tension in his extended family.

Police arrested Lady Seng Chantha on charges of attempted murder based only on a complaint lodged on 16th June by her stepdaughter, Mrs. Sun Sutha. According to the complaint, Mrs. Sun Sutha claimed that on the night of 13th June, when her husband, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol, was not home, 4 unidentified assailants broke into her home in the middle of the night with an attempt to rape and kill her. Later, the 4 unidentified assailants were identified as her domestic workers. They were arrested and told police that Lady Seng Chantha, Sun Sutha's stepmother, hired them for $5,000 to rape and kill Mrs. Sun Chantha. Police obtained an arrest warrant and on the morning of Wednesday 7th July, Lady Seng Chantha was arrested in front of Oknha Khaou Chuly inside her luxury mansion. The tycoon broke into tears for being unable to help his wife, said Chantha's lawyer.

The Phnom Penh Post reported that Okhna Khaou Phallaboth, the son of Khaou Chuly and younger brother of Sun Chantha, yesterday expressed regret that a “small internal dispute in the family” had ended up in court. He declined to describe the dispute’s origins.

“I firmly believe that my father’s wife would not do such a foolish thing as to order the rape and murder of my older sister,” he said.

If convicted, Lady Seng Chantha could face between 10-15 years jail.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

The tear run down on Khao Chuly's face is a fake crying. Instead, he is more happy than ever after the police led his wife to a prison. In his mind he would find an other young girl than his wife to get marry again even he is 80 years old as a Cambodia old said, an old ox found a fresh grass.

Anonymous said...

You are right that he has no problem finding another young wife, but I believe that he is genuine in feeling sorry for his wife. After 15 years marriage, anyone would be very bad if their wife is being arrested and led away to prison, especially if they believe that the charges stemmed from family feud.

I think the feud between daughter and the second wife will break the old man's resolve and he might die of stress and depression. They, especially the daughter, will feel very, very sorry later if he die due to this dispute.

Anonymous said...

Communication is the last effort that the Cambodian people wants to do,
Rumors it's the first effort that the Cambodian people wants to show,
The power give you a key,
And if you don't know how to used it,
Please don't play with or someone could be kill, in real!
I hope that the Cambodian police are able to foundand explain the true...