The brother of slain union leader and opposition party activist Chea Vichea said Wednesday that he would withdraw an Appeals Court complaint that has stalled the trial of the two men accused of the killing.
“I will go to the Appeals Court on Sept 13 to withdraw my complaint because I think it is useless,” Chea Mony said.
Chea Mony has said that the police arrested the wrong men since Jan 29—the day police paraded Sok Sam Oeun and Born Samnang before reporters and boasted of a swift investigation.
Since then, numerous cracks in the case against the two suspects have arisen, raising the alarm of human rights groups.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court Investigating Judge Hing Thirith dropped the charges against the men on March 19, citing a lack of evidence. But his decision was appealed, and the Supreme Council of Magistracy sacked him not long afterward.
When the Appeals Court considered the case on July 1, it ordered further investigation “in
order to find more clear evidence to prove the suspects’ guilty.” Chea Mony launched a complaint against that Appeals Court, which has yet to be heard, because he was not invited to the proceedings.
The withdrawal of Chea Mony’s complaint will allow the case to go to trial.
“If he withdraws the complaint, the faster we can send the case back to the Municipal Court,” said Thuong Mony, who presided over the Appeals Court hearing. (Additional reporting by Porter Barron)
