Police Investigated for Ignoring Court Order

Phnom Penh municipal police are being investigated for failing to follow a court order to detain a man suspected of falsifying a private electricity company’s documents, a top municipal court official said Tuesday.

“I do not know why the police violate the court’s ruling,” said Prosecuting Judge Kong Sarith. “Police have no right to free the suspect, now we are investigating to find out who gave the order to free the suspect.”

Municipal Judicial Police Chief Heng Pov said at a news conference Tuesday that the court ordered his police to arrest Peng Leang, who is the local representative of the Korean-owned Chilbo Industrial Co Ltd, an electricity provider that operates under the moniker Electricitie De Kompong Thom.

Peng Leang, 50, has been accused by the court of falsifying company documents and illegally conducting business as the head of the firm.

But police claim the court order is unjust and ignored it.

“My job is justice, if the matter is an injustice, I can’t do it,” Heng Pov said.

Phat Pouv Seang, Peng Leang’s lawyer, said that the prosecutor should have summoned Peng Leang before calling for his arrest. He added that the man should not be arrested because police have no cause to detain him and his arrest would keep him from doing his job and supporting his family.

Phat Pouv Seang said his client has not been accused by Chilbo authorities of any wrongdoing. He suggested that a Kompong Thom provincial police officer had trumped up the charges against Peng Leang.

“I will complain to the Ministry of Justice and Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cabinet to let them know about the injustice of the municipal court, especially Pro­secuting Judge Kong Sarith and Judge Chhin Chiva,” he said.

Phat Pouv Seang said that his client is indeed the legal representative of the company and said he has the documents to prove it.

The lawyer said that Park Noh Hak gave power of attorney to Peng Leang to act on behalf of Electricitie De Kompong Thom, and that the managing director  signed a blank letterhead for Peng Leang to use in his absence.

“Mr Peng Leang is the legal authorized person of Chilbo Ind­ustrial Co Ltd,” Phat Pouv Seang quoted the letter as saying.

“We have all the real evidence from Chilbo Industrial, signed by Park Noh Hak, managing director of Chilbo, who…delegated full rights to Peng Leang to manage, coordinate and decide all matters concerning electricity production and sales in Kompong Thom town,” Phat Pouv Seang said.

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