The supreme Court yesterday ordered the immediate release of a man who began serving a 12-year prison sentence in 2010 after being convicted of attempted murder.

Presiding Supreme Court Judge Kim Pon said Dy Sophon had been arrested in late 2009 after he hit his wife in the head with a bowl and was sentenced to 12 years’ jail by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in February, 2010.

The Court of Appeals upheld this verdict last October.

“The Supreme Court understands there was confusion by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the Court of Appeal with this case. So it was ordered that Dy Sophon [be released] immediately,” Kim Pon said.

He said the municipal court and the appeals court had misclassified the crime as attempted murder, but Dy Sophon should have been charged with intentionally causing violence, a misdemeanour.

Dy Sophon said he had an argument with his wife and hit her in the head with a bowl when he became angry.

He was arrested after his wife filed a complaint with police.

“I am very happy, as the Supreme Court has found justice for me. However, I was really disappointed with the decisions of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and the Court of Appeal, which convicted me to 12 years in jail,” Dy Sophon told the Post yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]