By May Titthara
Wednesday, 09 May 2012
Phnom Penh Post
Chhouk the bandit at one of the official duties he attended before he went into hiding after the shooting.
There's still no arrest warrant, but Svay Rieng provincial court has
issued a summons to former Bavet town governor Chhouk Bandith, asking
him to come to court on May 27 to clarify the circumstances surrounding
charges related to the shooting of three protesters, an official told
the Post yesterday.
“I am not sure whether he will come
to clarify in the morning or afternoon, but he already received the
summons,” said Hing Bun Chea, chief prosecutor for Svay Rieng.
The charges in question stem from a February 20 protest involving more than 6,000 workers from the Kaoway Sports factory.
Chhouk
Bandith allegedly opened fire into the crowd, injuring Buot Chinda, 21,
Keo Near, 18, and Nuth Sakhorn, 23, each of whom are demanding $45,000
in compensation.
Chhouk Bandith was subsequently charged with causing “unintentional injuries” and transferred to a lesser post.
Victim Buot Chinda said that she would like to ask the provincial court to take quick action in light of the long delay.
“I
want to appeal to the court to issue an arrest warrant and arrest him,
because the court has all the evidence already,” she said. “If a poor
person like me did what Chhouk Bandit did, they might already be in
prison.”
Am Sam Ath, senior investigator for the rights group Licadho,
said that local NGOs were upset about the provincial court’s
foot-dragging as well as the charge of “unintentional injuries”, which
they deem too lenient.
“In this case, the provincial court will
just follow the court procedure,” he said. “They have no desire to
sentence Chhouk Bandith and find justice for victims.”
To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at titthara.may@phnompenhpost.com
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