MPs refuse to attend court for 'prostitution' summons

Acting opposition leader Kem Sokha talks to CNRP youth members last week at the party’s headquarters in Phnom Penh. Hong Menea

CNRP lawmakers Tok Vanchan and Pin Ratana yesterday ignored a summons to appear in court to answer questions about an alleged rendezvous between opposition leader Kem Sokha and a purported prostitute in Thailand.

In a case widely slammed as politically motivated, Vanchan and Ratana, both dual Cambodian-American citizens, are accused of meeting alleged mistress Khom Chandaraty in Bangkok and taking her to meet Sokha. Chandaraty has been accused of “prostitution” by police investigating the scandal.

Sokha, who has also been sued for defamation in a separate but related case, has been summonsed to appear in relation to the prostitution accusation today but is expected to ignore the summons as well.

The CNRP has maintained its lawmakers are not obliged to go to court, citing their parliamentary immunity.

Vanchan and Ratana could not be reached for comment yesterday. Party spokesman Yim Sovann said Ratana had travelled to the US but said Vanchan was in Cambodia.

However, an opposition source said yesterday that he believed both men were in the US, though the source said the pair had previous arrangements to travel there prior to being implicated in the scandal.

Contact authors: Meas Sokchea and Mech Dara

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