Lawyers Question PM’s Lawsuit

[geovalin]

Much has been made of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s decision to go after those claiming the government was involved in the assassination of prominent researcher and government critic Kem Ley last month. But the strange decision of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to issue summonses for opposition leader Sam Rainsy and opposition senator Thak Lany without a confirmed list of charges has many questioning the motives and ultimate goal of the move.
 

On Monday, Mr. Hun Sen’s lawyer Ky Tech filed complaints to the court against the two, allegedly on charges of defamation. Yet court spokesman Ly Sophana refused to say on Wednesday exactly what charges the court was planning to levy against the two, claiming they were “still examining” the lawsuit filed by Mr. Hun Sen’s lawyer, the evidence, witnesses and related documents. He did not explain how summonses could be issued without a formal list of charges.
 

The court has summoned Ms. Lany to appear on Monday, and Mr. Rainsy, now in self-imposed exile in France, has been summoned to appear on August 19. Mr. Hun Sen has asked for only 100 riel in compensation. Mr. Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was accused of defamation for continually writing Facebook posts saying the government, and particularly the prime minister, were behind the death of Mr. Ley, who was shot twice, once in the head, while reading a newspaper at a gas station coffee shop in Phnom Penh on July 10.

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/28114/lawyers-question-pm---s-lawsuit/