Tuesday, 23 December 2008

Prince threatens to sue local newspaper

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Neth Pheaktra
Tuesday, 23 December 2008

PRINCE Norodom Ranariddh on Monday threatened to take local newspaper Moneaksekar Khmer to court for defamation, claiming the broadsheet published false information about him last week.

"[We] reject the information that [Ranariddh] requested King Norodom Sihamoni to nominate 200 officials for the Royal Cabinet of the King," Chea Chanboribo, Ranariddh's Cabinet spokesman, told the Post Monday.

Chea Chanboribo requested that the newspaper present written evidence signed by the Prince proving that this accusation was true, or expect to be sued.

"In the event that the newspaper doesn't present evidence, we will take legal measures to bring justice to Ranariddh," he said.

Liv Sovanna, Ranariddh's lawyer, told the Post that suing the paper was a last resort, but one they would be willing to pursue.

"If the newspaper doesn't present evidence, legal measures will be practiced," he said.

Dam Sith, publisher and editor-in-chief of Moneaksekar Khmer, said he had done all that was required of him by law already.

"I have already published the letter of [Ranarridh's spokesperson] in the newspaper and explained where the source for the article was from. This affair is finished," he said.

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