Opposition party seeks royal intervention for lawmaker who loses immunity

By: Ratanak

PHNOM PENH, December 29, 2011 (CEN) – Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay (pictured) has appealed to King Norodom Sihamoni to ask the Supreme Council of Magistracy to investigate a provincial judge and a provincial deputy prosecutor who he accused of corruption.

In a letter dated Wednesday, the opposition member of parliament said action needed to be taken against Judge Lim Sokunthea and Deputy Prosecutor Vong Bunvisoth of the Kandal Provincial Court in order to improve the country's judiciary.

"We do not agree with the court, which serves the ruling party and oppresses the opposition," Son Chhay wrote, claiming that some political activists and lawmakers including opposition leader Sam Rainsy continued to be victims of illegal trials and other injustices.

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Chan Cheng recently lost his parliamentary immunity to enable the Kandal court to charge him with trying to organize a jailbreak.

Son Chhay claimed that the judge, deputy prosecutor and clerk of the court used fake documents to arrest a commune councilor involved in a local land dispute.

Judge Lim Sokunthea could not be reached for comment.