King Norodom Sihanouk pardoned a newspaper publisher who allegedly defamed him by printing a story accusing royal officials of funneling money to Funcinpec.
“I am very glad to hear the news from the Information Ministry that King Norodom Sihanouk has decided to forgive me,” said Chet San, publisher of the Sangkruos Cheat (National Salvation) newspaper. “I would like to express my thanks to him.”
On March 4, the Sangkruos Cheat newspaper published a story alleging that the King sent money to Funcinpec during the commune elections.
In a later article, the newspaper said the article was not about King Sihanouk, but a fictionalized king in a theatrical play.
In mid-March the King asked the Ministry of Interior to take action against the newspaper. The King, however, recently pardoned Chet San, according to a pardon request approved and signed by the King on April 14.
“For my safety, I have stopped publishing any stories affecting the King,” Chet San said. “For my article affecting the King, I did not write it to destroy King Norodom Sihanouk’s reputation.”
