Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC) president Ath Thorn has urged the Ministry of Justice to intervene in the Siem Reap Provincial Court.

He wants the ministry to release six airport workers who are union activists and have been charged and detained for six months without a proper investigation.

Thorn told the Post on Tuesday that six workers at the Siem Reap International Airport were sued by a Cambodia Airport employer for stealing visitors’ luggage because he discriminated against them.

The unions took issue with the company that wanted to change staff to work in a multi-skilled field.

He further said the provincial court had decided to charge and detain them for six months as opposed to procedure. The court even didn’t investigate to find evidence, but merely acted on a complaint from the employer.

He said: “They are angry with the workers for taking issue with the employer who wants workers to work in a multi-skilled field when the workers don’t agree to the change.

“In the past, a worker only performed his job, but the employer wants him to now do many jobs. In the past, we requested that evidence be found, who lost bags and what they lost. But we have not been shown any evidence.”

On March 26, the CLC filed a letter asking for intervention from the ministry to release the six and requesting that it investigate the provincial court in relation to the case.

The letter read: “Until now, it has been six months. The Siem Reap Provincial Court still continues detaining the six.

“In principle, detention is four months long in complicated cases [so] the court could request a further detention. But this case involves the allegation of stealing, and it is not complicated. This is serious pressure on the detained who are victims.”

The six were named as Sok Sokhorn, Sovan Vireak, Run Ra, Dul Sovan, Rith Sarey and Eng Phay. Police sent them to the court on August 29 for allegedly breaking the key or zips of the tourist suitcases.

Siem Reap Provincial Court spokesman Yin Srang said the case of the six was sent to court for trial on April 23, and that the court had acted as per the correct legal procedures.

He said a lawyer for the six should present evidence against the case to battle it when the trial is held, rather than request intervention from the ministry.

“Normally, they have correct evidence and then they send it to the trial chamber. When the court schedules a trial, it has the procedure and evidence to charge [the six],” he said.

Ministry spokesman Chin Malin declined to comment, saying that he was busy.