Chhouk Banith (R) and his protector Men Sam An (L).
PHNOM PENH, 8 January 2-13 (AFP) - Cambodia on Tuesday said authorities will
reinvestigate the role of a former governor in the shooting of three
female garment workers last year after charges against him were
controversially dropped.
The justice ministry said the government intervened following a court decision to scrap the case against Chhuk Bundith, the prime suspect after the women -- employees of Puma supplier Kaoway Sports -- were wounded during a protest in February.
"The justice minister has sent a letter to the prosecutor general at the Appeal Court asking him to reinvestigate the case in order to find justice for everyone," spokesman Sam Pracheameanith told AFP.
In response to the request last month, the prosecutor joined an appeal case filed by the victims' lawyers, he said.
"I am glad with the move. I want justice to be rendered," Bout Chinda, who spent two weeks recovering after a bullet pierced her lung, told AFP by telephone.
A provincial court in December dropped charges against Bundith -- who was governor of Bavet City at the time the women were shot -- of causing unintentional injuries.
The justice ministry said the government intervened following a court decision to scrap the case against Chhuk Bundith, the prime suspect after the women -- employees of Puma supplier Kaoway Sports -- were wounded during a protest in February.
"The justice minister has sent a letter to the prosecutor general at the Appeal Court asking him to reinvestigate the case in order to find justice for everyone," spokesman Sam Pracheameanith told AFP.
In response to the request last month, the prosecutor joined an appeal case filed by the victims' lawyers, he said.
"I am glad with the move. I want justice to be rendered," Bout Chinda, who spent two weeks recovering after a bullet pierced her lung, told AFP by telephone.
A provincial court in December dropped charges against Bundith -- who was governor of Bavet City at the time the women were shot -- of causing unintentional injuries.
It instead charged a police officer with involuntary bodily harm over the incident at a rally demanding better working conditions at factories in eastern Svay Rieng province.
The decision was slammed by dismayed rights campaigners who have long criticised the country's culture of impunity.
Puma said it was "disappointed that justice has not been brought about almost a year after the crime was committed".
The textile industry is a key source of foreign income for Cambodia and employs more than 400,000 people, mostly women.
Tension between staff and bosses over working conditions erupted in 2010 when tens of thousands of workers went on strike across the country until the government stepped in and arranged talks with manufacturers.
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