Thursday, 10 September 2009

Phnom Penh Municipal Court Adjourns Ho Vann Verdict to September 22

Written by DAP NEWS -- Thursday, 10 September 2009

Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutors on Wednesday ruled to delay declaring the verdict in Ho Vann’s case to September 22, 2009.

Ho Vann, Phnom Penh Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker, was sued earlier this year by Royal Cambo-dian Armed Forces (RCAF) officers after he allegedly made comments to local media NGO the Cambodia Daily about the officers’ academic degrees awarded by a Vietnamese military institute. The Cambodia Daily published the remarks in their daily newspaper.

However, 22 senior armed forces officials demand the court charging to fine CR220 million, each one filing for damages of CR10 million. The court later charged the writer of the article after it emerged Ho Vann had distanced himself from the remarks in a written letter. The parliamentarian said that the Cambodia Daily’s reporter had misquoted him. The foreign editor of the newspaper, a well-respected international journalist, insisted the court withdraw the charges against his reporter and charge him instead. He claimed to have a voice recording of Ho Vann making precisely the remarks that were published.

Ho Vann now is reportedly in the US with Mu Sochua. SRP spokesman Yim Sovann could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Ou Virak, director of the Cambod- ian Human Rights Center, has previously suggested the court delay its hearing until the SRP lawmaker can be present. Defamation cases should not be brought against opposition party officials, he said. Prosecutors sent a letter dated August 19 recalling Ho Vann to face the court over charges of the defamation of 22 senior armed forces officials.

On the morning of June 22, 2009, the National Assembly, controlled by the majority ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) approved the suspension of Ho Vann’s parliamentary immunity.

The request for immunity suspension came from a Phnom Penh Municipal Court prosecutor via the Ministry of Justice, to pave the way for the court to bring the RCAF lawsuits.

Recently one SRP lawmaker, Mu Sochua, lost a defamation case against Prime Minister Hun Sen.

No comments: