Thursday, 04 October 2012
By May Titthara
Phnom Penh Post 
Chut Wutty pictured in Prey Lang forest earlier in 2012. Photograph: Mathieu Young/Phnom Penh Post
Five months after the fatal shooting of forestry activist Chut Wutty,
Koh Kong Provincial Court dropped his case this morning, saying they
would only be looking into the shooting of the man who allegedly killed
Wutty.
Speaking at the start of the long-awaited trial, Judge Khan Sophary announced that the hearing would focus only on the case of Ran Boroth, who stands accused of the unintentional murder of Wutty's killer, as the "perpetrator was already dead" in the case of Wutty.
In April, Wutty was shot to death while investigating logging firm Timbergreen. Military police officer In Rattana was also shot to death.
Over the course of several days, authorities offered a series of bizarre and shifting explanations, eventually settling on a scenario in which Rattana shot Wutty following a heated argument and Boroth—hoping to protect two journalists with whom Wutty was traveling—accidentally shot Rattana while trying to disarm him.
During a trial that lasted just one and a half hours, witnesses, lawyers and Boroth himself hewed perfectly to the story.
Police Lieutenant General Mok Chito, who headed a joint investigation committee appointed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, echoed Boroth's statement, testifying that the investigation determined his actions had been motivated solely by the desire to protect the journalists.
"What I did was just to protect other people," Boroth, who was employed as a Timbergreen security guard at the time of the shooting, told the court.
"I had no desire to shoot In Rattana to death, because he is my close friend."
A verdict in the case is expected on October 8.
Speaking at the start of the long-awaited trial, Judge Khan Sophary announced that the hearing would focus only on the case of Ran Boroth, who stands accused of the unintentional murder of Wutty's killer, as the "perpetrator was already dead" in the case of Wutty.
In April, Wutty was shot to death while investigating logging firm Timbergreen. Military police officer In Rattana was also shot to death.
Over the course of several days, authorities offered a series of bizarre and shifting explanations, eventually settling on a scenario in which Rattana shot Wutty following a heated argument and Boroth—hoping to protect two journalists with whom Wutty was traveling—accidentally shot Rattana while trying to disarm him.
During a trial that lasted just one and a half hours, witnesses, lawyers and Boroth himself hewed perfectly to the story.
Police Lieutenant General Mok Chito, who headed a joint investigation committee appointed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, echoed Boroth's statement, testifying that the investigation determined his actions had been motivated solely by the desire to protect the journalists.
"What I did was just to protect other people," Boroth, who was employed as a Timbergreen security guard at the time of the shooting, told the court.
"I had no desire to shoot In Rattana to death, because he is my close friend."
A verdict in the case is expected on October 8.
To contact the reporter on this story: May Titthara at titthara.may@phnompenhpost.com
1 comment:
You have no desire to shoot In Ratana but did and you also killed Chut Vuthy and blamed on the death man In Ratana as well.God knows what you've done you can't hide from ordinary folks that cover up your crime against innocent men but you won't get away from Karma and God almighty you better of to repent or admit your quilt than lied to the world.I didn't believe base on the evidence that your investigators and you gaven to cover up your crime,the fact the matter was "you killed both of them" Do you have any conscience in your heart? I know you probably lived under enormity pains quilt because you knew that you killed two innocent humanbeing to protect your Chinese crooked's boss.
Kmenhwatt.
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