Controversial lawyer David Chanaiwa has denied police statements accusing him of destroying public property and violating traffic laws by driving his Hummer—the civilian-use model of the military Humvee vehicle—across Hun Sen Park last month.
Interior Ministry Information Department Director Chhay Sinarith said last month that Chanaiwa was arrested on Aug 22 after being questioned by police over the alleged incident.
In a letter dated Monday, Chanaiwa called his arrest unlawful, adding: “I have never confessed I drove the car through to damage the garden for fun as informed by the Interior Ministry Information Bureau Director, Chhay Sinarith.
“Instead, I informed them of the description of the person who drove the car. Until today there isn’t any relevant evidence for the charges they put on me,” Chanaiwa wrote.
Chhay Sinarith did not answer repeated calls Tuesday.
Chanaiwa, a US-educated lawyer who made his name representing garment factory owners in high profile labor disputes, also denied that he had been put in PJ Prison following the arrest.
Chanaiwa was scheduled to be incarcerated at PJ Prison but was transferred at the last minute to Prey Sar prison in the days following the alleged incident, officials said at the time.
A staff member at Chanaiwa’s law firm said that he was uncertain of Chanaiwa’s whereabouts as he has many clients.
Chanaiwa could not be contacted by telephone, but Kim Sarin, director of Correctional Center 1 at Prey Sar prison, said Chanaiwa remains in detention.
“He is still detained in prison,” Kim Sarin said. “No one bailed him out yet.”
