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CNRP decries court’s decision to try Sokha

Deputy CNRP leader Kem Sokha talks to supporters at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh earlier this month. Photo supplied
Deputy CNRP leader Kem Sokha talks to supporters at the party's headquarters in Phnom Penh earlier this month. Photo supplied

CNRP decries court’s decision to try Sokha

The Cambodia National Rescue Party yesterday slammed the decision to send a case against acting party president Kem Sokha to trial, calling the court a political tool that had “abused the constitution”.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court investigating judge Than Leng decided on Tuesday that a charge for “refusal to appear” levied against Sokha on May 26 should go to trial, though a date has yet to be set.

In a statement yesterday, the party demanded the court drop the case, which concerns the opposition leader’s decision to not appear for questioning as part of a “prostitution” case against him connected to an alleged affair with a hairdresser.

“Members of parliament for the [CNRP] can absolutely not accept the decision of the prosecutor and investigating judge of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, who have charged and sent His Excellency Kem Sokha’s [case] . . . to trial without suspending his parliamentary immunity beforehand,” the statement reads.

“The court’s charge is unreasonable according to the law . . . this is just a pretext to provoke and burden the Cambodia National Rescue Party.”

Cambodian People’s Party spokesman Sok Eysan, however, rejected the widely held belief that the case was politically motivated.

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