• Politics

Sam Rainsy Damages Payouts Fall Short: PM

• By Romdoul Chetra
• December 22, 2022 6:15 PM

PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Sen says proceeds from the sale of the former CNRP opposition party's headquarters – owned by Sam Rainsy – were not enough to cover damages payments awarded by courts to the PM and other national leaders.

Hun Sen said the property sold for $1.6 million but he had received over $700,000 out of $1 million in compensation in a civil damages case against Sam Rainsy. Another $300,000 was still owed.

At the inauguration ceremony of Streets 146B and 148 in Preah Sihanouk province, Hun Sen said he would take legal action against opposition politicians who accused his party of stealing election votes.

Of the property proceeds, the government received more than $440,000, Heng Samrin received nearly $50,000, Sar Kheng more than $380,000 and the National Treasury more than $5,000, according to Fresh News.

Sam Rainsy was sued by Hun Sen in January 2017 for public defamation under Article 305 of the Penal Code after saying that Hun Sen had bribed Thy Sovantha with $1 million to attack the CNRP.

The Supreme Court ruled against Sam Rainsy and he paid 4 billion riels in compensation in December 2018.

Separately, Sam Rainsy was sued by Heng Samrin in November 2015, after the opposition leader said he had punished late King Norodom Sihanouk for being a traitor after the Pol Pot regime.

The Supreme Court ordered Sam Rainsy to pay 4 billion riels to  Heng Samrin in November 2017.

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng sued the opposition leader in July 2019, for inciting to commit a crime after Sam Rainsy said that Dy Vichea, the son of Hok Lundy who died in a plane crash on November 9, 2008, was plotting revenge on Hun Sen, with the support of Sar Kheng.

Sam Rainsy was ordered by the court to pay 2 billion riel in compensation in December 2020.

The exiled former CNRP leader still faces 10 criminal charges. He has been sentenced in absentia to 25 years to life in prison.