Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Calls for calm as verdict in Sokha’s treason trial nears

Calls for calm as verdict in Sokha’s treason trial nears

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Kem Sokha leaves the municipal court earlier this year. Hong Menea

Calls for calm as verdict in Sokha’s treason trial nears

As lawyers await the much-anticipated verdict in the treason trial of former opposition leader Kem Sokha, a spokesman for the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) urged calm and called on the public to refrain from speculating about the ruling, due on March 3.

The investigation and trial procedures of Sokha’s charges of “conspiring with a foreign power to overthrow the government” have been ongoing since his arrest in early September 2017.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court heard the final concluding arguments from the prosecution and lawyers of both sides late into the night last week, when they summarised their strongest arguments.

Deputy prosecutor Phlang Sophal said Sokha, former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), had committed an act of treason resulting in many injuries and the loss of many lives, as well as extensive damage to public and private property. Sokha had threatened the security and public order, he added.

“Therefore, the court requests that the trial chamber issue an order to detain the accused, in accordance with the provisions of Article 353 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” he concluded, demanding that Sokha be taken into custody.

Government lawyer Ky Tech told The Post that his team had submitted an 86-page final statement to the trial chamber, detailing the charges against Sokha.

The government is acting as a civil party, claiming all damages caused by “illegal” demonstrations of Sokha’s supporters, Tech said, adding that his team will file further complaints for civil claims.

“As is clear from the provisions of articles 21-22-23 and 26 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a civil party can file a claim in any case, even after a criminal case has been decided,” he said.

Meng Sopheary, a member of Sokha’s defence team, said that from now until March 3, her team will not be holding further meetings and will simply await the ruling.

“Now that we have presented our closing arguments, we have fulfilled our duty as lawyers. All we can do is wait to hear the announcement,” she said.

She said her team had pleaded that the court drop the charges against Sokha and had offered a number of explanations for why her client had not acted against the law as charged.

“We have protested that the allegations are patently untrue, while also offering arguments that clearly showed my client did not conspire with foreigners [to plotting],” she added.

Although the long-awaited verdict is due on March 3, that is unlikely to be the end of the case, as either side may file an appeal to a higher court, explained Tech.

As some political commentators and members of the public offered predictions on Sokha’s next step in politics, CPP spokesman Sok Eysan suggested that they await the verdict instead of making any speculations on Cambodia’s independent judiciary before it had even been delivered.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former