The lawyer for one of Hun Sen’s nephews jailed after a shooting in a local beer garden that left two wounded pushed Monday to have his client released on his own recognizance.
David Chaniawa, lawyer for 24-year-old Hun Chea, submitted a letter to Phnom Penh Municipal Court requesting his client be released as long as he promises to show up for trial.
Both Hun Chea and Hun To, also 24 and a nephew of the prime minister, are charged along with two others with illegal use of a weapon and destruction of public property following a Dec 16 shootout at the Parkway Beer Garden.
“I believe my client will be free soon, because my client was not involved in the fight. He doesn’t even own a gun,” Chaniawa said.
Authorities allege that Hun Chea, Hun To and several of their bodyguards fought with a Cambodian-Australian man and his friends over the Cambodian-Australian man’s sister-in-law.
Police arrested Hun Chea soon after the shootout and Hun To surrendered to authorities at Prey Sar prison on Saturday.
A date has not been set for the hearing on Chaniawa’s petition.
