Minister reiterates govt cannot interfere in court rulings [The gov't cannot interfere in Sam Rainsy's and Mam Sonando's case, but it had interfered to secure the release of a suspected Thai spy]

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith interviews with reporters

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) --  Information Minister Khieu Kanharith has reiterated that two key opposition figures have been given prison sentences for criminal offenses and not opposing the ruling party.
"Sam Rainsy was sentenced for falsifying public documents and destroying national property," he told reporters Wednesday, referring to the exiled opposition leader.

"Mam Sonando was not sentenced because he's the director of Beehive Radio but because he led an insurrectionary movement in Kratie province," he added.

His remarks came after French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault raised the issue of the two opposition figures during a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“What can the government do?," the information minister asked. "If cases are in the hands of the courts, the government has no power to interfere." [But the government had interfered to secure the release of a suspected Thai spy].

Sam Rainsy, who is believed to be living in France, has been sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison. Mam Sonando began serving a 20-year sentence last year.