Bundith Triple Shooting Victims Appeal for More Compensation

Three factory workers who were shot and injured by Chhouk Bundith, the former Bavet City governor who is now a fugitive from the law, have filed an appeal with the Svay Rieng Provincial Court demanding higher financial compensation to be paid by their attacker, court officials said Thursday.

Provincial Judge Leang Sour said the three victims—Bun Chenda, Keo Nea and Nuth Sokhorn—filed the appeal with the court on Wednesday. “I saw that the victims have appealed to demand additional compensation than before,” Judge Sour said.

In February 2012, Chhouk Bundith opened fire on a crowd of protesting workers in a Bavet City special economic zone, leaving the three women injured.

The provincial court sentenced him to 18 months in prison, and levied a total compensation of $9,500 to be paid to his victims.

Although the judge had ordered the governor’s immediate arrest, Chhouk Bundith remains at large and his whereabouts is unknown, police say. His lawyer filed an appeal to the court earlier this month.

“We will send both parties’ appeals to the Appeal Court after the national election,” Judge Sour said.

Chin Lyda, a lawyer for the injured women, confirmed that his clients had appealed the compensation amount, explaining plaintiffs were not legally allowed to appeal the verdict.

“They want the Appeal Court to decide on their compensation again because they are not satisfied with the compensation,” Mr. Lyda said, adding that they had requested a total of $140,000 originally. “I appeal to the government and the authorities to implement the court’s arrest warrant.”

Three unions—the Cambo­dian Labor Confederation, the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, and the National Independent Federation Textile Union of Cambodia—joined his call, releasing a statement Thursday, demanding that the government arrest Chhouk Bundith before Sunday’s election.

“The government must show its will to protect the innocent people and they should not allow people with power like Chhouk Bundith to remain free,” the statement says. “Chhouk Bundith is still free and this shows that the government is not willing to arrest him.”

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