The lawyer for former Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Tok Vanchan said yesterday that he has lodged a complaint with the Constitutional Council objecting to the National Election Committee’s decision to remove his client from his post in Takeo province.

Attorney Pich Sambath told the Post that he submitted the complaint to the Constitutional Council yesterday after the NEC recognised lawmaker Sang San as Tok Vanchan’s replacement despite an injunction from Phnom Penh Municipal court demanding that the SRP delay its decision.

“I have already sent a complaint to the Constitutional Council [yesterday] to object to the NEC decision,” Pich Sambath said, adding that the Council is the “supreme institution” overseeing the case and can either accept or reject the NEC’s decision. However, he declined to comment on the decision itself, saying that he will wait for the council’s decision and the court ruling first.

NEC secretary-general Tep Nytha declined to comment on Top Vanchan’s complaint, saying that it is within the former SRP lawmaker’s rights to bring the case to the Constitution Council, but added that the NEC will be happy to clarify its decision with the Council if asked to do so.

Council member Penn Thol said that he has not seen the complaint yet, and that when any case reaches the Council, it will call a meeting and make a decision.