Grievance against Prince not in court yet [Lawsuit against Prince Ranariddh not lodged yet]

PHNOM PENH, 11 March 2013 (The Cambodia Herald) -- Funcipec Party spokesman said Monday the complaint that Prince Norodom Ranariddh (pictured) had sold the party’s Mi-17 helicopter has not yet reached court.

Funcipec Party had announced Sunday that it would file a grievance against the Prince.

"At this movement the Funcipec Party has not yet filed an official compliant," Tum Sambo, Funcipec Party spokesman said. "We were discussing the procedures we would have to pursue in our announcement made Sunday, it included the sale of a Mi-17 Helicopter and corruption.

"The grievances that the party is planning to file against the Prince, took place when the Prince was serving as the Party’s President."

"There weren't any negotiations made between Prince Norodom Ranariddh with Funcipec Party’s President Nhek Bun Chhay which was why the initial complaint was called-off," Tum Sambo said. "However, we were preparing a new one."

He added that the grievance was not made because of the rumor that the Prince was joining the National Rescue Party as honorary President.

"We had thought about the complaint for several weeks now," he said. "Our grievance was not based on revenge, but it's our party’s policy to find out the truth."

"We do not pressure anyone. the Funcipec Party remains firm in unification efforts to strengthen the Royalist Party. We don’t want to insult anyone."

"They said they had brought helicopter in for service but it was sold instead," he said. "Another expensive helicopter was bought and it was the same thing, it ended up being sold."

"The cheapest one cost $1.7 mln, and the Prince said it was getting fixed. It took us three years to find out it was sold."

Norodom Ranariddh Party spokesman Pen Sangha regarded the accusation as the cowardly actions of the Funcipec Party.

"Prince Norodom Ranariddh would never steal party property to sell," he said. "The actions of Nhek Bun Chhay was based dishonesty."

Furthermore, "I strongly reject any news saying that the prince aims to join the opposition's National Rescue Party because he had officially announced his resignation from politics," Pen Sangha added.