The Svay Rieng Provincial Court has concluded its investigation into a traffic accident in May that killed 18 garment workers and the driver of the minibus they were travelling in, with a hearing set to take place within a month.

According to Pech Chheut, director of the Svay Rieng court, the only suspect due to appear is Le Vang Phing, 43, who was driving the passenger bus that pulled into the oncoming lane at high speed in an attempt to pass and slammed into the minibus.

“The case is in my hands right now, and I am checking and preparing it to find judges to select the date for hearing,” Chheut said yesterday.

The announcement came after a letter, made public yesterday and penned by opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers Ou Chanrith and Kong Saphea, called for the case to be accelerated and for compensation to be forthcoming.

According to Poek Samul, director of the National Social Security Fund in Svay Rieng province, while the bank accounts in which compensation will be deposited have been opened, the funds would not be deposited until October.