Several Phnom Penh Municipal Court officials who were singled out earlier this year following Prime Minister Hun Sen’s “iron fist” crackdown on corruption in the judiciary will stand trial in Battambang on Nov 3, officials said Sunday.
While few details of the trial were being released, Battambang Provincial Court Judge Pech Chhoeut said the trial could last as long as three days and will be presided over by Judge Chhay Kong.
Tuot Lux, Justice Ministry secretary of state, said the trial will be aimed at reforming the court system by punishing corrupt court officials.
“The court has the right to decide [about those officials],” he said. “This is the law being implemented in Cambodia to reform the courts.”
However, to protect their reputations, Tuot Lux refused to say exactly which officials will be tried or what charges they are facing.
Chhay Kong refused to comment on Sunday and Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana did not answer his phone.
Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly vowed on March 3 to deal with corrupt court officials with his “iron fist” after several armed robbers allegedly bribed Phnom Penh Municipal Court judges and prosecutors to release them.
In April, Battambang Chief Prosecutor Yam Yet accused four municipal court officials—deputy prosecutors Siem Sok Aun and Khut Sopheang and judges Ham Mengse and Kong Sarith—with wrongdoing.
Kong Sarith and Siem Sok Aun were later fired by the Supreme Council of Magistracy, and Ham Mengse and Khut Sopheang were suspended for one year.
Former Municipal Court Judge Hing Thirith, who was transferred to Stung Treng province, was also suspended for unknown reasons while Chief Prosecutor Ouk Savouth was given a warning.
Hing Thirith said Sunday he was not aware of the trial. Siem Sok Aun said he had heard about it in the local media and would go if summoned.
“I am waiting to see,” Siem Sok Aun said. “I don’t know [what to say] because all the documents are with the court because they did the investigation.”
