SRP politician appears in court [This is both a political persecution and intimidation]

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Chan Cheng attends the Kandal provincial court yesterday for questioning. Photo by Pha Lina

By Meas Sokchea
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Phnom Penh Post

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Chan Cheng appeared before the Kandal provincial court yesterday for questioning, more than three months after his parliamentary immunity was stripped in a landslide vote of the National Assembly.

Judge Sin Virak told the Post yesterday that Chan Cheng and his attorneys answered questions at the court for about two hours. However, he said the court ordered restrictions on Chan Cheng’s travel throughout the proceedings.

“We just want to prevent him from going abroad,” the judge said.

Chan Cheng, as well as attorney Choung Choungy, was charged with aiding and abetting Meas Peng, the second deputy chief of Kien Svay district’s Banteay Dek commune, who allegedly escaped from jail last September.

Chan Cheng’s lawyer, Ket Khy, said his client planned to comply with the court order.

SRP spokesman Yim Sovann said this case was politically motivated, as Chan Cheng was an opposition legislator who defended people involved in land disputes.

“When the opposition party defends people who are the victims of land grabbing, the court is used as a tool of the ruling party,” Yim Sovann said.

“I would like to appeal to the ruling party to stop using the court to convict the opposition party.”