THE Court of Appeal on Tuesday postponed a hearing on the dismissal of parliamentarian Mu Sochua's lawsuit against Prime Minister Hun Sen due to her absence from the court.

The Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker was summoned to appear in court Tuesday by Prosecutor General Ouk Savuth after she contested a Municipal Court decision last month rejecting her lawsuit against Hun Sen, who later successfully countersued her for defamation.

Mu Sochua sued Hun Sen following comments he made in an April speech in Kampot that she said defamed her.

Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Yim Sovann said he had not received confirmation of the postponement of Mu Sochua's case, but that she sent a letter to Ouk Savuth on August 5 requesting that the hearing be delayed because she was due to visit the United States for medical treatment.

The parliamentarian, who represents Kampot province, is scheduled to return from the US on September 20. Ouk Savuth could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.