Charges against two RCAF officers accused of torturing a fellow soldier to death were dropped and the two were released by Kratie Provincial Court on Tuesday, Investigating Judge Kong Sokhom said.
Son Heng, a company commander in RCAF’s Battalion 204, and his brother-in-law Kong Kouy, were being held in Kratie provincial prison in connection with the August 2004 death of Ny Sok Rorn, 35, a soldier from the same battalion. Ny Sok Rorn was missing for almost two weeks before he was returned home severely beaten, incoherent and terrified during the final days of his life.
“I released them on Tuesday because I found no evidence to detain them. I decided to drop charges against them too,” Investigating Judge Kong Sokhom said. “I asked [rights group] Adhoc’s investigator to provide evidence and witnesses but they failed to do so.”
Kong Sokhom added that any party who disagreed with the verdict could submit an appeal.
“They already had evidence,” Adhoc spokesman Chan Soveth said Wednesday, referring to Ny Sok Rorn’s tortured body and statements made by his widow, Koeun Chean, 33. Adhoc had helped Koeun Chean bring her complaint before the court.
“Judge Kong Sokhom did not investigate the case fully before dropping the charges,” Chan Soveth said, adding that Adhoc will launch an appeal.
Prak Saran, Adhoc investigator in Kratie, said that the investigating judge visited Koeun Chean with two military police and commune officials. He said they persuaded Koeun Chean to withdraw her complaint and promised her $1,000 in compensation.
“Kong Sokhom asked her to consider withdrawing her complaint, advising that she could not win the case against the suspects because she is poor and she would face problems of having no money for the trip back and forth to court,” Prak Saran said.
Kratie provincial Prosecutor Penh Vibol, who had pressed for an investigation into the death, said Wednesday he was unaware that the suspects had been released.
