Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Kem Sokha to meet with defence lawyer March 28

Kem Sokha to meet with defence lawyer March 28

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Former opposition leader Kem Sokha meets with his lawyers at his home several years ago. KEM SOKHA VIA FB

Kem Sokha to meet with defence lawyer March 28

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has granted permission for Kem Sokha, former president of the long-defunct Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), to meet with his defence lawyer on March 28. The meeting is set to take place at his residence in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district.

The approval followed a March 22 request from Sokha, who said he needed to consult with his counsel before filing an appeal. Sokha was sentenced early this month to 27 years house arrest for conspiring with foreign powers to topple the government.

“We allow the defence lawyer who was named in the municipal court criminal case dated September 3, 2017 to meet with Sokha at his residence on March 28, from 7am to 5pm,” said a March 22 letter signed by prosecutor Chreung Khmao.

The letter also instructed the judicial police to facilitate the meeting.

Muth Chantha, a close aide of Sokha, took to social media on March 23 saying that Sokha was unable to meet his lawyers on March 14, and that the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC) had told Sokha to follow the March 3 court ruling if he wanted to consult with his lawyer.

“On March 22, Sokha wrote a letter to the prosecutor requesting that he be allowed to meet with his lawyer on Tuesday, March 28, as he needed to consult with him about his planned appeal,” he said, noting that prosecutor Khmao granted permission later that day.

BAKC confirmed in its March 17 press release that Sokha must comply with the March 3 verdict should he need access to legal services.

The March 3 ruling bars Sokha from leaving his Tuol Kork residence and from meeting anyone – outside of his own family – by any means, in-person or electronically, unless granted express permission by the prosecutor. He has also been stripped of the rights to be involved in politics.

MOST VIEWED

  • Tensions high ahead of historic Kun Khmer match up

    The long-awaited November 5 matchup between Kun Khmer legend Prum Samnang and Myanmar-Canadian boxer Dave Leduc has become the most anticipated fight of the year. The Wurkz Sena Kun Khmer promotion, which will be held at the Town Arena at Chip Mong 271 Megamall, will see six

  • Manet: Cambodia safe for travel

    Prime Minister Hun Manet acknowledged that Cambodia and China have cooperated to tackle internet scamming, fraud and other cross border crimes, but insisted that the “Kingdom of Wonders” is completely peaceful and safe. He welcomed tourists to come and explore its rich heritage. During a

  • UNESCO formally list Battambang gastronomy

    Battambang, renowned for its cultural heritage, has achieved a significant milestone as the first Cambodian municipality to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The UCCN unites nearly 300 cities prioritising creativity and cultural industries in local development plans and international cooperation. On World Cities Day,

  • Cambodia pivots to solar, wind energy

    Cambodia is planning a move towards solar and wind energy to meet its rising power demands, according to Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak. On the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week event held recently, Rottanak emphasised the urgency of diversifying Cambodia’s

  • Angkor causeway symbol of Cambodia-Japan ties

    In a historic moment marking another milestone in the 70-year-long diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Japan, King Norodom Sihamoni celebrated the formal inauguration of a causeway located to the west of the world-renowned Angkor Wat. While presiding over the November 4 ceremony, the King emphasised the

  • Manet calls for Cambodia’s railways to get back on track

    Prime Minister Hun Manet has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite studies into upgrades to the Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk railway line. He suggested that the maximum speed on the line should be increased to 80km/h, in order to expedite the transportation of