Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - New summons for Sokha as local chief questioned

New summons for Sokha as local chief questioned

Seang Chet (centre), commune chief of the Sam Rainsy Party, is escorted out of Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday afternoon after being questioned.
Seang Chet (centre), commune chief of the Sam Rainsy Party, is escorted out of Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday afternoon after being questioned. Heng Chivoan

New summons for Sokha as local chief questioned

Acting opposition leader Kem Sokha has been issued a summons yet again to answer questions over an alleged prostitution case involving hairdresser Khom Chandaraty after he failed to appear before the court on Tuesday.

In a related case stemming from the same scandal, Sam Rainsy Party member Seang Chet, a commune chief in Kampong Cham, yesterday was in court for a second time to answer questions on the alleged bribery of Chandaraty’s family.

In an order issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court obtained yesterday, deputy prosecutor Seang Sok ordered Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) second-in-command Sokha to appear as a witness in court on May 26.

But CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann confirmed that Sokha will continue to ignore the summons. “He will not go [to court]. Firstly, because he still has immunity; secondly, he has not done anything wrong,” Sovann said.

Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin and Phnom Penh court spokesman Ly Sophanna warned further steps could be taken to compel Sokha to appear, but they did not specify what those steps were.

“If he still does not appear this clearly shows he does not cooperate and is not fulfilling his obligation to the law. The court can take procedures if he does not appear after the second summons,” Malin said.

Legal expert Sok Sam Oeun said that although Sokha was legally protected by immunity, in the current political climate it was no guarantee he would not be arrested.

“Now I cannot predict what will happen, because lawmakers who have immunity have already been jailed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chet was questioned for two hours for information into the alleged bribery, which his wife had previously defended as a $500 charitable donation from Cambodians abroad to Chandaraty’s mother, which she ultimately did not accept.

Chet will apply for bail next week. Kem Sokha also refused to appear last week after being summonsed over a $1 million defamation case launched by social media celebrity Thy Sovantha in the wake of phone recordings of conversations, purportedly between Kem Sokha and Chandaraty, were aired online.

Independent political analyst Ou Virak said people would lose confidence in the judicial system if Sokha was arrested, adding that hostility for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party would only grow.

“If the CPP wants to destroy the CNRP, as long as citizens are unhappy with the ruling party, the destruction won’t be effective,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one