Prey Veng SRP MP Chea Poch21 Sept 2010
By Vipheak
Khmer Machas Srok
Translated from Khmer by Soch
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Prey Veng SRP MP Chea Poch was very disappointed that he was summoned by the Phnom Penh municipal court to show up on 29 September 2010 so that he could be sentenced in the defamation lawsuit case brought up against him in August 2004. The summons was issued to him while he is still a full Member of Parliament and his parliamentary immunity has not been lifted yet for the legal proceedings to take place.
Chea Poch told Khmer Machas Srok in the morning of 21 September that: “If they want to sentence me, then my parliamentary immunity must be lifted first before I can be sentenced, but, I still hold my immunity and yet they summon me for a sentencing session.”
During the past two years, opposition officials – both MPs and local representatives – were implicated in many lawsuits brought up against them by the ruling CPP party and by CPP officials. Opposition officials and civil society organizations indicated that this is a dangerous political game led by the ruling CPP party.
According to Chea Poch, the accusation made against him started in 2004-2005 when he and opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that Prince Ranariddh received two planes from Hun Sen. At that time, the National Assembly lifted his and Sam Rainsy’s immunities after the court made a request to that effect. However, in 2006, following a political arrangement concluded between Ranariddh and Hun Sen, Chea Poch’s immunity was restored.
Nevertheless, Chea Poch said cautiously that he will ask his lawyer to follow up on this case.
Chea Poch told Khmer Machas Srok in the morning of 21 September that: “If they want to sentence me, then my parliamentary immunity must be lifted first before I can be sentenced, but, I still hold my immunity and yet they summon me for a sentencing session.”
During the past two years, opposition officials – both MPs and local representatives – were implicated in many lawsuits brought up against them by the ruling CPP party and by CPP officials. Opposition officials and civil society organizations indicated that this is a dangerous political game led by the ruling CPP party.
According to Chea Poch, the accusation made against him started in 2004-2005 when he and opposition leader Sam Rainsy said that Prince Ranariddh received two planes from Hun Sen. At that time, the National Assembly lifted his and Sam Rainsy’s immunities after the court made a request to that effect. However, in 2006, following a political arrangement concluded between Ranariddh and Hun Sen, Chea Poch’s immunity was restored.
Nevertheless, Chea Poch said cautiously that he will ask his lawyer to follow up on this case.
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