Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Cambodia Daily publisher's defamation trial begins

Cambodia Daily publisher's defamation trial begins

A man reads the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh on its last day of publication after the paper was forced to close in 2017 over a massive tax bill. AFP
A man reads the Cambodia Daily in Phnom Penh on its last day of publication after the paper was forced to close in 2017 over a massive tax bill. AFP

Cambodia Daily publisher's defamation trial begins

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Thursday morning opened proceedings in the defamation trial against the deputy publisher of the Cambodia Daily, but deferred the conclusion of the hearing after procedural issues arose.

Deborah Krisher-Steele, deputy publisher of the now-shuttered newspaper, was sued by the Tax Department last September. The department took exception to allegations from Krisher-Steele that it had leaked a confidential tax document to the media and that its audit of the newspaper had been politically motivated.

The Daily stopped publishing after it failed to meet a 30-day deadline to pay a $6.3 million tax bill, with the issue escalating into a public fight between it and the Tax Department, following the leak of a document to government mouthpiece Fresh News.

The trial, which Krisher-Steele did not attend, began with defence lawyer Ham Sunrith saying that his client had not received a summons for the case. But Prosecutor Keo Sokunthea insisted that it had been delivered to the defendant, with Judge Seng Leang siding with the prosecutor and allowing the proceedings to continue.

Tax Department Deputy Director Vann Puthipol, who is the complainant, was represented by his colleague, Heng Narith, who presented a statement on behalf of the department.

He claimed Krisher-Steele spoke to media outlets in late August alleging the Tax Department had leaked the document, breaching confidentiality, and characterising the tax probe as politically motivated. “The Tax Department is a law enforcement institution and follows the regulations, and no documents were leaked by the department. These accusations have affected the reputation of the Tax Department,” Narith said.

On the night of August 4, Fresh News published the leaked tax document, hours after it was posted on former CNRP lawmaker Ou Chanrith’s Facebook page. Chanrith has claimed he did not have control of his Facebook page at the time because it had been hacked.

“The GDT [General Department of Taxation] is not involved in politics. The GDT collects all taxes from all media outlets and individuals who are entitled to pay,” he said.

The court adjourned the hearing until April 12 because Krisher-Steele’s statement, provided by the defence, had not been translated by official translators. Judge Leang gave her lawyers until then to re-submit the statement.

These are not the first procedural issues faced in the case, with Krisher-Steele having lost one of her lawyers, Sek Sophorn, for not having the requisite documents authorising him to legally represent her.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Tina rebuffs ‘false claims’ over falling paddy price

    Agriculture minister Dith Tina has shed light on the trade of paddy rice in Battambang – Cambodia’s leading rice-producing province – in a bid to curb what he dubs a “social media fact distortion campaign” to destabilise the market. While acknowledging that the prices of paddy

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm