A villager imprisoned in Svay Rieng Provincial Prison for his involvement in opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s uprooting of border markers has been hospitalized with acute diarrhea and vomiting, officials and family members said yesterday.
Prison director Ken Saroeun said Prum Chea, 41, had been sent to Svay Rieng provincial hospital on Saturday after falling sick last week.
“I sent him to the hospital because he was sick…. He got serious diarrhea and was vomiting for several in prison,” he said.
Mr Chea and Mas Srey, 39, were charged by Svay Rieng Provincial Court with destruction of property for taking part in Sam Rainsy’s removal of the border markers in Samraong commune, Chantrea district. They were each given one-year prison terms on Jan 27 and combined fines and damages of $1,250, to be divided with Mr Rainsy.
Mr Rainsy was sentenced in absentia to 2 years in prison and ordered to pay about $2,000 in fines. He is currently residing in France.
Mr Chea’s wife Choueng Sarin, 34, said she had visited her husband in the hospital during the last three days and added he was seriously ill and had to wait several days before he was hospitalized.
“My husband is in a bad condition and is weak and thin,” she said, “He got sick on January 29, but was only sent to the hospital on Saturday.”
