kompong cham town – Kompong Cham provincial court acquitted five prison guards on Friday of allegations they tortured inmates, despite testimony from four victims and four witnesses that the guards beat inmates.
The case was considered a key test for the Cambodian judiciary in finding justice for victims of prison abuse. Rights workers have long alleged that torture is commonly used by prison guards.
Friday’s trial stems from a December 13, 1999, attempted prison escape by five inmates at Kompong Cham provincial prison who were captured immediately and allegedly beaten severely.
Three of the prison guards told the court that during the 1999 escape bid they cornered the prisoners and used minimal force to restrain them. Two other guards present at the scene did not appear in the trial, which has taken two years to reach a conclusion.
“When the prisoners were running away, I tried to prevent them from leaving. I never hit them. I threatened them twice with a broomstick, but never hit them,” said prison guard Hak Yi.
Four of the five alleged beating victims testified in court that they planned their 1999 jail break for at least five days before they made their escape bid. All were serving long sentences—between 8 and 21 years—for violent crimes such as murder and robbery.
Alleged victim Thun Tha said after his capture a guard hit him with a large rock.
“Another guard threw a stone at me, and they kicked me in the mouth,” Thun Tha said. “One beat me,” he said.
New York-based Human Rights Watch on Wednesday called the trial “precedent setting” as it was one of the few times prison guards have been called to account in court.
