The Supreme Court Increases Compensation to be Paid to Former CNRP Lawmakers
Nhay Chamroeun ( left), Kong Saphea (right), at the hospital after being beaten by protesters in 2015.
- Phoung Vantha
- October 29, 2019 10:14 AM
PHNOM PENH--The Supreme Court issued a judgment Monday to the effect that the three men found guilty of assaulting two Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) parliamentarians in 2015 pay their victims $5,000 more than the previous amount set for compensation.
In October 2015, Nhay Chamroeun and Kong Saphea were dragged out of their cars and beaten in front of the National Assembly. The suspects included three bodyguards of Prime Minister Hun Sen and individuals who were protesting at the building.
In May 2016, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced Chay Sarith, 33, Mao Hoeun, 34, and Soth Vanny, 45, to four years in prison and a combined payment of $20,000 to the two parliamentarians. The three men, who were former bodyguards of the prime minister, were released after one year in jail.
Ket Khy, the victims’ lawyer, said that a $25,000 compensation is still not enough in view of the hospital bills the victims had to pay and hardship this caused them.
But since the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, its decision is final and there is no more legal recourse, he said. Still, Khy added, “[w]e are not happy with the judgment.”
Now the challenge will be to use legal means to get the three perpetrators to pay the amount set by the court, Khy said. Because so far, they have paid nothing, he added.
