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| Boeung Kak activist Tep Vanny is escorted by officials into the Supreme Court in January this year. Hong Menea |
Breaking: Supreme Court upholds Boeung Kak convictions
Phnom Penh Post | 8 December 2017
The Supreme Court today upheld the convictions of three Boeung Kak activists – including Tep Vanny
– for allegedly obstructing and insulting public officials during a
2011 demonstration outside Phnom Penh City Hall. Their six month
sentences were also upheld.
Vanny, Bo Chhorvy and Kong Chantha were originally sentenced in
September 2016, five years after an effort by some 100 community
activists to deliver a petition to City Hall grew violent when security
forces tried to disperse them. Authorities accused them and another
activist, Heng Mom, of attacking and “insulting” security officials.
According to a statement from rights NGO Licadho, neither the
plaintiff’s lawyers nor witnesses were present during the appeal
process.
“As in earlier court hearings on this case, insufficient evidence was
presented to meet the legal standards for proof,” the statement reads.
The statement also notes that no “enforcement order” was issued,
meaning Chhorvy and Chantha can be arrested at any time to serve their
sentences. Vanny has been in Prey Sar prison since August 2016, and is
already serving a 30-month sentence for her alleged role in a
demonstration outside Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house.
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