THE Court of Appeal has scheduled the retrial of Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang, convicted of the 2004 murder of labour leader Chea Vichea, for August 17, Chan Socheat, lawyer for Sok Sam Oeun, said Wednesday.

Sok Sam Oeun, who is now working as an English teacher, said Wednesday from his hometown in Takeo that he had received a summons to the Appeal Court to stand trial on August 17 at 7:30am.

"I am quite sure I will be on trial on that day even though I am innocent," he said.

The initial verdict was widely condemned by Cambodian and international rights groups who said the pair were scapegoats.

Late last year, the Supreme Court ordered the provisional release of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun citing contradictory evidence. The pair had been imprisoned for nearly five years.

Born Samnang was unavailable for comment, but his mother Keo Chanta said that he had received a summons to appear at court this month and that he was planning to attend the trial.