ang snoul district, Kandal province – Officials at Brigade 911 paratroopers’ headquarters on Wednesday refused to release an RCAF officer from detention, saying he had violated the internal rules of the military by failing to attend work for more than seven months.
Their announcement came after more than an hour of negotiations between commanders at the headquarters and human rights workers trying to obtain the release of 911 Lieutenant Phork Sambath, who has been detained since March 1.
Rights workers say Phork Sambath was arrested over a property dispute involving his uncle, who lives in the US, though officials at the headquarters said that was not the case.
“In the army’s rules, personnel cannot be freed before being disciplined,” said Soth Saroeun, a deputy brigade commander, after meeting with officials from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, Licadho and Adhoc.
The CCHR has said that Phork Sambath was arrested by senior paratroopers who demanded that he accept $3,000 in return for vacating his home in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kok district. The house belongs to Phork Sambath’s uncle, Srey Vath, who earlier this year accused his nephew of trying to claim ownership of the home.
Srey Vath allegedly took the dispute to his nephew’s commanding officer, and Phork Sambath was detained soon afterward, his wife Im Kanha has said.
On Monday, Im Kanha said that her family has been demanding $25,000 from Srey Vath in return for leaving the house, which they are currently occupying. She attributed her husband’s detention to the dispute, adding that he is feeling weak and has been suffering from headaches.
Soth Saroeun conceded that Phork Sambath’s family has a long-running dispute with Srey Vath over the ownership of the home, but he denied pressuring the detainee to accept money to leave it.
Srey Sen Kosal, a medical officer with Licadho, was allowed to meet with Phork Sambath, and said he appeared to be in good health but sobered by his experience.
Chan Soveth, an investigator with Adhoc, said he would continue to follow the case closely.
But for the moment, at least, Phork Sambath’s detention is set to continue, said Yim Chumnith, a deputy commander at the brigade, adding that 911 is taking good care of him.
“If I release him, it would mean the rules are loose,” he said.