THE National Election Committee has filed a complaint to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against opposition Sam Rainsy Party President Sam Rainsy for failing to pay the court a 10 million riel (US$2,500) fine, officials told the Post Sunday.

The electoral committee fined the party president for making derogatory remarks towards members of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) during the election earlier this year.  

"The NEC sent the complaint against opposition president Sam Rainsy to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday," Tep Nytha, NEC secretary general, told the Post Sunday.

"It's a last resort for NEC to lodge a lawsuit.... NEC sent a letter directly to President Sam Rainsy and requested intervention from the National Assembly to cut his salary, but these two processes failed," he said.

SRP 'not worried'

Son Chhay, lawmaker and spokesman for the SRP, said that the popular opposition leader had no qualms in taking his argument to court.

"Sam Rainsy does not worry at all about this recent decision. He has not done anything wrong. He would like the opportunity to explain to the court why this judgement was not fairly done," he told the Post Sunday.