Those unhappy with Supreme Court rulings against them will now be able to make a final appeal to King Norodom Sihamoni, Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday.

Speaking at a convention to launch three heavily criticised judiciary laws, the premier said the reforms meant the King could ask the Supreme Court to review any case if it has been appealed and he thinks a retrial is warranted.

“Previously, based on Supreme Court rules, there is no more appeal [once the court has delivered its final ruling],” he said. “That’s why people curse Hun Sen. They do not curse [chief justice] Dith Munty.”

The premier said many people have previously written letters to him asking for his intervention once their appeal at the Supreme Court has been rejected.

The three laws, passed earlier this year, have been widely criticised for effectively removing any division between the judicial and executive branches of government by transferring too much power to the Ministry of Justice.