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The Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Tuesday signed an official letter to Justice Minister Ang Vong Vatana asking that he reexamine the case of Hang Chakra´s, publisher of the pro-opposition Khmer Mochas Srok newspaper, who was convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of defamation and disinformation.

The letter dated August 5, 2009, follows an appeal from a group journalists on Monday this week who jointly asked the Cambodian King to intervene with the Justice Minister over the ongoing imprisonment Hang Chakra. Phnom Penh Municipal Court on June 26, 2009 fined Hang Chakra CR9 million and sentenced him to 12 months in jail. he has become ill since being incarcerated, media reports claim. According his defense lawyer, Hang Chakra has a serious fever.

Choung Chougni, Hang Chakra´s defense lawyer, on Wednesday claimed that his client is not aware that a group of NGOs have jointly asked that he be freed.

Choung Chougni seemed not to be overly optimistic over the NGOs’ request, saying the case could be political, so could best be solved politically.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled that Hang Chakra had committed the crime of disinformation in order to “instigate political stability” after he published articles in his newspaper in April and May, 2009. The story cited in court related to allegations of corruption around Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, also a minister for the Council of Ministers.

Phnom Penh Appeal Court on August 11, 2009 upheld the prior court’s ruling.

However, it is unclear whether Hang Chakra’s defense lawyer will pursue the case further and file a complaint to the Supreme Court. “I will do as my clients wishes,” Choung Chougni said.

Ang Vongvatana could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Written by DAP NEWS
Thursday, 27 August 2009