The minister of Justice has ordered the review of a paperwork bungle by Phnom Penh district police, according to documents obtained by the Post yesterday.

In the letter, dated June 8, Ang Vongvathana requests that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s general prosecutor review procedures undertaken by deputy prosecutor Cheth Khmera.

The letter states that Sa Math’s family assaulted his neighbours, 28-year-old Soeu Halim’s family, over a land dispute on November 6, injuring them seriously and destroying a number of valuable items.

District police changed Soeu Halim’s gender from female to male, called the victims the alleged attackers, and vice versa.

Cheth Khemara also issued a warrant placing the blame on Soeu Halim’s family.

“The Ministry of Justice has observed that the action taken by deputy prosecutor Cheth Khemara was an aberration, and was not right within the procedure of laws. Therefore, I would like to ask you to examine this case again,” the letter reads.

Kouy Thunna, defence lawyer for Soeu Halim’s family, welcomed the letter.

“I hope that with his intervention letter, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court will take action for this case, and justice will prevail for my clients in future,” he said.

Soeu Halim had previously filed a complaint against five senior police officials and Cheth Khemara over the mix-up.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]