Court questions the Rock owner in drug raid case

A total of 27 people are standing trial after a crackdown on the club in February last year. Heng Chivoan

The case against Oknha Kith Theang, the owner of Rock Entertainment Centre in Phnom Penh, and his associates continued on Tuesday at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Theang and three women were questioned during the hearing.

A total of 27 people are standing trial after a crackdown on the club in February last year in which 311 people were arrested and 50kg of drugs confiscated.

Chief judge Im Vannak and another unidentified judge presided over the hearing on Tuesday, which was closed to the public due to the fact that some of the accused were minors. At least six defence lawyers were seen at the hearing prosecuted by Sok Keo Bandit.

A lawyer who asked not to be named told The Post that two of the 27 suspects are minors but that they have already been questioned at a previous hearing.

“In today’s hearing there was no minor, so I’m not sure why the judge wanted a closed-door session,” the lawyer said.

Reached on the phone, Suong Chan Thorn, a lawyer for Theang, told The Post he did not know any details of what happened during the trial.

The hearing will continue on March 25.

On February 23, a joint force led by Phnom Penh Municipal Police chief and National Police deputy chief Sar Thet worked with deputy prosecutor Ly Sophana to raid the Rock Entertainment Centre, in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district.

Contact author: Kim Sarom

MOST VIEWED

Ministry taking steps over Thai ‘replica’ of Angkor Wat
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has dispatched experts to inspect the ongoing construction of a temple in Wat Phu Man Fah, located in Thailand’s Buriram province. This temple appears to be a replica of Cambodia’s renowned Angkor Wat. The ministry said
Ream base allegations must end, urges official
A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical
PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1
Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to
CP denied registration documents by ministry
The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do
Cambodia claims int’l titles in eight-sided arena
Three prominent Cambodian Kun Khmer fighters – Thoeun Theara, Phal Sophorn and Roeung Sophorn – all claimed International Professional Combat Council (IPCC) world titles at the September 30 octagonal ring event at Town Arena, although popular Kun Khmer exponent Prum Samnang failed to secure a win in his
Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote
The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.