Earlier
in 2016 phone recordings were released of conversations allegedly
between Kem Sokha (pictured), deputy leader of Cambodia's opposition
party, and a hairdresser
AFP / Yahoo News | 2 May 2016
Cambodia charges six as MP 'sex scandal' deepens
A
Cambodian court on Monday charged six people -- including a local
United Nations employee -- over an alleged attempt to bribe a woman so
she would deny an affair with a top opposition party member.
It
is the latest twist in a sex scandal that has gripped the country since
phone recordings of conversations allegedly between lawmaker Kem Sokha
and a 25-year-old hairdresser were leaked two months ago.
Rights
groups say the legal proceedings are the latest attempt by Prime
Minister Hun Sen to undercut a resurgent opposition trying to end his
31-year grip on power.
The woman initially denied the affair with the MP, who is the deputy leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party.
But
she later told a court it had taken place and accused a prominent
advocacy group, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association
(ADHOC), of instructing her to deny the relationship.
On
Thursday the country's anti-corruption unit arrested four members of
the rights group along with a former group employee. They remain in
custody.
"We have decided to charge them with bribing a witness," Ly Sophanna, spokesman for the prosecutor's office at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, told AFP.
A
UN rights office staff member, Sally Soen, was also charged with being
an accomplice to an attempted bribe, he added, although he has not been
arrested.
Prosecutors have yet to reveal details of the alleged bribe.
Under the criminal code the group face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Kem Sokha has not publicly commented on the accusations against him.
A
local administrator was jailed last week pending trial for allegedly
bribing the hairdresser's family to pressure her into denying the
affair.
In
addition prominent political analyst Ou Virak will appear in court next
week after being sued by Hun Sen's ruling party for defamation. He had
suggested the sex scandal was aimed at damaging the opposition.
Hun
Sen's main rival, opposition leader Sam Rainsy, has been forced to live
in self-exile abroad to avoid arrest warrants which he says are
politically motivated.
In a Facebook post last week, Hun Sen asked his officials to prepare lawyers to sue anyone who slanders his party.
When will you do something about your sex's scandal and what will you do something about your sexual's appetite???
ReplyDeleteQuand est-ce que tu vas faire quelque chose à propos de ton scandale sexuel, et aussi que vas-tu faire à propos de ton appetit sexuel???
តើកាលណាទៅ ទើប លោកឯង គឺតគូរពីរឿង អាស អាភាស អាស្រូវ ទោះបីពឹតឬមឹនពឹត របស់ក្តនឹងក្ដិត ស្នេហា របស់លោកឯងនោះ?
តើលោកឯង គឹតយ៉ាងម៉េចដែរ ពីរឿង ស្រក់ទឹកមាត់ នឹង អត់ឃ្លាន របស់ក្ដនឹងក្ដឹត របស់ លោក ឯងនោះ???
Khmer court system is a joke...
ReplyDelete3:59 AM
ReplyDeleteThe Hun Sen's government itself is a joke to start with.
Hun Sen must change or will be, after the 2018 election.
Hun Sen is a terrorists’ leader.
ReplyDeleteThe difference between him and ISIS is, he terrorizes Khmer while ISIS terrorize their own people plus the West, so until he poses a threat to the West, Khmer will continue to suffer.
But now he starts to terrorize the people who work for the UN, let’s wait and see what can the latter do anything about it besides giving warnings as usual.
They can only control you if you let them...
ReplyDeleteIt look like Hun sen jailed T2P media also because it's dead now or what's happening to Khmer democrat?
ReplyDeleteNous nous demandons la même chose...
DeleteKhmer Democrat,
ReplyDeleteWhere in the heck are you ?