The Phnom Penh Municipal Court of Appeal will relocate from its current location to new premises in the OCIC development area in Chroy Changvar district.

All trial hearings will be suspended from January 2 to 31 next year to give time to prepare the new location.

A December 8 notice signed by Appeal Court president Seng Sivutha informed lawyers and all parties involved in outstanding cases that the court would move from the premises of the Ministry of Justice in Daun Penh district’s Chey Chumneah commune to the Royal School of Justice building in Prek Leap village of Chroy Changvar’s Preak Leap commune.

“In order to better organise the courtroom and administrative offices, we will postpone the scheduled hearings from January 2-31, 2023, with few exceptions,” it said.

Am Sam Ath, deputy director of rights group LICADHO, said it was not uncommon for large organisations to move premises. What matter, he said, are fair trials within its jurisdiction.

“Longer distances mean more time spent travelling, but that is not the important thing. Law enforcement, legal proceedings and ensuring justice are more important,” he said.

The court said that despite the postponement of hearings during the relocation, the day-to-day administration and the provision of public services by the General Secretariat of Administration of the court will still continue.

Currently, there are four regional appeal courts in Cambodia: Phnom Penh and the provinces of Tbong Khmum, Preah Sihanouk and Battambang, each of which has jurisdiction for the surrounding provinces.