A Cambodian Interior Ministry spokesman on Saturday said he was pessimistic over the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) president’s request to the Appeal Court to ask that Heng Pov, former Phnom Penh police commissioner, to act as a witness in the late Chea Vichea’s murder case.
“Heng Pov is prisoner so that he only has the right to live, eat, exercise and other basic actions,” Khieu Sopheak, Interior spokesman, told DAP News Cambodia.
“He does not have the right to speak, move freely, vote, or act as an elected candidate,” he said. “If he is under indictment from the court, he is not a not a neutral person and does not have the right to speak freely.” Chea Vichea refuted the Interior Ministry spokesman’s claims, saying that, “If the appeal court is willing to ask for Heng Pov as a witness, it will be able to do so.”
“A prisoner has the right to make any remarks he feels willing to do so as a witness in this case,” he added.
The appeal court will summon Bourn Samnang and Sok Sam Eoun, charged over Chea Vichea´s killing, to stand trial on August 17.
CFWU president Chea Mony issued a statement calling for Heng Pov to be a witness in his brother’s killing murder.
Ouk Savuth, prosecutor general of the appeal court declined to answer DAP News Cambodia ’s questions, saying only, “Contact the court’s administration.”
Chea Vichea was murdered in February, 2004 while he was reading the newspaper near Langka Pagoda in Phnom? Penh. Bourn Samnang, and Sok Sam Eoun were later convicted of his killing.
The Phnom Penh Supreme Court ruled that the two defendants be released from prison pending an Appeal Court investigation. Both must appear in court if called. |
No comments:
Post a Comment