The Court of Appeal last Friday upheld the decision of a lower court to drop the $100 million abuse of power lawsuit filed against former Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuktema by Okhna Chhin Sokountheary, also known as the “Crocodile Grandmother”.

According to a copy of the decision, Appeal Court general prosecutor Ouk Savuth said the lawsuit was baseless, due to the fact that the municipality’s sub-decree – which allegedly stripped some 34 hectares of Sokountheary’s land illegally and folded it into a parcel of state land – “was in the interest of the public; it was not made on behalf of the individual Kep Chutema”, and had been authorised by the government.

Sokountheary said via email yesterday she would continue to pursue the matter.

“This sub-decree has been made with an untrue report, and has affected people’s lands,” she said.