Union Leaders Get Suspended Sentences for ‘Incitement’

TWO garment union leaders were convicted in absentia by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Friday and given six-month suspended sentences for inciting more than 2,000 workers to protest against the Evergreen Industrial Co. Ltd factory and destroying company property in 2012.

Chum Sophea, the 32-year-old president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union branch within the factory, and Chum Pheakdey, the 34-year-old secretary-general of its union, were convicted of “intentionally causing damage” under article 410 of penal code.

Both men had been granted bail after they were charged and did not attend the court on Friday. Judge Thlang Phaneth said each would also have to pay a 500,000 riel ($125) fine to the court and jointly pay 5 million riel to the plaintiff.

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