Kim Sok gets 18-month term

[geovalin]

Political analyst Kim Sok remained defiant yesterday as Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced him to 18 months in prison for defaming the ruling CPP. Mr Sok refused to stand for the verdict before being forced to do so by guards who stuffed his mouth with a shirt to stop his interjections.

 

The sentence stemmed from a complaint by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who claimed Mr Sok defamed the CPP by suggesting it was behind the murder of political analyst Kem Ley. Mr Hun Sen was also seeking $500,000 in compensation, but Presiding Judge Ky Rithy dropped the amount to about $200,000 in restitution for the CPP. Mr Sok was also fined about $2,000 to be put into the state budget.

 

“The claim for compensation more than this is dismissed,” said Judge Rithy. “I order the accused to be imprisoned.” During the hearing, Mr Sok appeared without his lawyer and refused to stand for the verdict and again demanded a new hearing because his request for a new judge was denied during the trial.

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