The lawyer of a man accused of homicide in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district lashed out yesterday against provincial authorities for failing to formally notify him of his client’s scheduled hearing tomorrow.

Im Socheat, lawyer for accused Ou Bunthan, said provincial deputy prosecutor You Yoeun Ny failed to notify him in an attempt to delay the trial and thereby detain his client for longer.

“I am not happy with the deputy prosecutor’s procedure,” Im Socheat said, adding it was “an abuse of rights”.

“You Yoeun Ny must find a way to send a notice that reaches me or to call me,” the lawyer said.

Im Socheat said he still planned to attend his client’s hearing tomorrow.

“If I don’t . . . the court will delay the case further and my client will be detained for longer,” he said.

However, deputy prosecutor You Youeun Ny said he had properly informed all participating lawyers and witnesses of the hearing date.

“I sent notices to everyone. Whether or not it reaches them depends on the messenger,” he said.

Ou Bunthan is charged with the 2009 homicide of an employee he had accused of selling his pangolin.