The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged lawyer Pich Ratana, 40, with attempting to bribe a judge following his arrest by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) on Tuesday. Six lawyers from the Cambodian Bar Association have volunteered to defend.

One, Chou Chantyra, confirmed the charges against his client. “The court charged him under articles 4 and 32 of the Anti-Corruption Law and Article 518 of the Criminal Code,” Chantyra said.

“The court decided to detain him . . . and he has been sent to prison.”

Article 4 defines the terms governing the Anti-Corruption Law, while 32 lists the corruption offences covered by the existing Criminal Code, Article 518 of which is bribing a judge.

Deputy prosecutor Ngin Pech also confirmed yesterday Ratana had been charged with bribery, but declined to comment further. ACU president Om Yentieng hung up on a reporter. Saing Vannak, another of Ratana’s lawyers, said on Wednesday his client’s record was unblemished.

“He was a long-term member [of the Bar Association],” Vannak said. “He never received any warning and never made a mistake.”