The Court of Appeal has reduced to six months the original three-and-a-half-year prison term handed to the son of a wealthy businessman for pistol-whipping a man and damaging restaurant property.
Duong Udomchorvin, 24, was sentenced in May, along with his 17-year-old brother, Duong Kimlong, who was given a five-month suspended sentence, for taking part in a brawl in a Chamkar Mon district restaurant during which property was destroyed and a man suffered head injuries after being pistol whipped with the butt of a pistol.
The brawl erupted during Khmer New Year and the assailants, with their personal bodyguards, fled the scene after the attack.
Duong Kimlong was arrested a day later at a condominium owned by his father. An AK-47 assault rifle, bullets and a handgun were seized from his luxury car. He was bailed before his trial.
“The Appeal Court decided to reduce the sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison to six months in prison, and the remainder of the sentence will be under probation,” court clerk Seng Sokun said Monday.
Because of time already served, that means he could be free as soon as next month.
Ms. Sokun said the compensation owed to the proprietor of the restaurant, which was originally set at 40 million riel (about $9,800), was also cut by half, adding that the verdict had been announced on Friday.
Mr. Udomchorvin’s father, well-known businessman Duong Ngieb, said in May that the pistol-whipping victim, Mom Dina, 28, had withdrawn his complaint against his sons.
Presiding Judge Thuo Mony declined to comment on this decision, saying that he was in a meeting at the Khmer Rouge tribunal.
Nach Try, the lawyer representing Mr. Udomchorvin—who is also known as Duong Chhay—declined to comment too, saying: “I don’t know about this case yet.”
Appeal Court prosecutor Im Sophan also declined to comment, referring questions to the presiding judge.
Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor for rights group Licadho, said Mr. Udomchorvin had got off lightly because of his connections.
“It’s because he is the son of a rich person,” he said. “People who have power always have influence over the court.”
