Monday, 08 October 2012
By Chhay Channyda
Phnom Penh Post
Three
members of the family of murdered journalist Hang Seri Oudom will
appear in Ratanakkiri provincial court on Wednesday, according to their
lawyer.
Oudom, who exposed illegal logging in the area for the
Virakchun Khmer newspaper, disappeared last month when he left his house
at night to meet an acquaintance.
His bludgeoned body was discovered days later, on September 11, in the back of a car.
Less than a week elapsed before police brought in several people for questioning.
Though
they have repeatedly said that more assailants could be involved,
authorities ultimately charged a provincial military police officer, An
Bunheng, and his wife, Sim Vy, with premeditated murder.
Oudom’s
mother, Keov Sovan, his widow, Im Chanthy, and a 15-year-old daughter
were summonsed by investigating Judge Luch Lao to answer questions about
the case.
Lawyer Hok Phallan was also called to attend the
hearing. The family has also filed a separate complaint, demanding
$10,000 in compensation for their loss.
Chanthy, who is pregnant,
told the Post yesterday that she will seek justice for her husband. She
said she plans to tell the court about an incident involving the son of
a local military commander whose car hit her husband’s on the way to
Phnom Penh before the last Khmer New Year.
Oudom wrote about the son in his last article.
“I
will testify about everything that happened to my husband, so the court
can seek fairness for my husband, because my baby will never have
someone to call father,” she said.
Tep Monicheat, defending, said his clients would be present for the hearing and would answer questions.
To contact the reporter on this story: Chhay Channyda at channyda.chhay@phnompenhpost.com
No comments:
Post a Comment