The Court of Appeal on Monday upheld more than 10 criminal convictions meted out by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, including cases of kidnapping and attempted murder, an acid attack and the running of a brothel.
Presiding Judge Pol Sam Oeun started by upholding the verdicts issued by the municipal court last year against three men, who were found guilty of kidnapping, illegal confinement and attempted murder.
“The Court of Appeal upholds the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s verdict on March 26, 2012, and orders the continued detention of the defendants,” Judge Sam Oeun said, referring to Ly Samnang and Chuon Bun Him, who are serving life in prison and Ing Tech Sreng, who was sentenced to 30 years for the crimes.
The men were also ordered to pay $200,000 to the victim, Uon Heng Bun, who was stabbed 10 times during his ordeal and whose family demanded $500,000.
“I am satisfied with the Appeal Court’s decision,” the victim’s father, Uon Sok Heng, said after it was read out.
Sentences were also upheld against three perpetrators—two of whom are on the run—after a brutal January 2008 acid attack in which the 48-year-old victim and her 3-year-old granddaughter died of their injuries.
The only perpetrator in jail, Mom Ton, was not transported to his appeal hearing in 2011 and his 16-year sentence was upheld in absentia. However, he was given another appeal hearing this month, for which he was present.
“The Appeal Court upholds the verdict from January 28, 2011, that sentenced the suspect in absentia,” Presiding Judge Samreth Sophal said.
Mom Ton’s mother, Mao Yon, remains at large, evading an 18-year prison sentence for masterminding the attack. Her nephew, Chak Heng, is avoiding a 16-year sentence.
Reading the verdict from a third case, Presiding Judge Chan Madina upheld a March 12 ruling that put Chan Sreynuch behind bars for four and a half years, with one year suspended, for running a brothel.
