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SRP MP Ho Vann22 September 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
The Phnom Penh municipal court sentenced the editor-in-chief of The Cambodia Daily newspaper and one of its reporters for spreading defamation information.
The Phnom Penh municipal court delivered is verdict on 22 September and Kevin Doyle, the editor-in-chief of The Cambodia Daily, as well as Neou Vannarin, a reporter for The Cambodia Daily, were both sentenced with a 4 million riels (~$1,000) fine each for spreading defamation news, however the court dropped the charge against SRP MP Ho Vann.
Sin Visal, the judge for the Phnom Penh municipal court, read the verdict sentencing 41-year-old Kevin Doyle and 26-year-old Neou Vannarin to pay 4 million riels in fine each for spreading defamation news in a report published on 21 April 2009.
The judge also announced that it dropped the defamation charge against 62-year-old SRP MP Ho Vann.
SRP MP Chea Poch, who attended the verdict announcement, told reporters outside the courtroom that he is very pleased by this verdict.
Chea Poch said: “I believe that this is good, and it [helps] push Cambodia towards democracy. Just now, I called my colleagues to tell them to announce the news to Mr. Ho Vann immediately so that he returns back to Cambodia.”
Kevin Doyle indicated that he has no comment on this issue.
Am Sam Ath, the investigation director for the Licadho human rights group said: “Dropping the charges against Mr. Ho Vann is correct, however, the sentence on the editor-in-chief of The Cambodia Daily and one of its reporters to pay 4 million riels in fine, this is not fair for the pair.”
Chan Soveth, an investigation official for the Adhoc human rights group, declared: “However, we regret to see the sentence on the reporters, this is why our news media are also facing with problems. The attention is a lesson for reporters, they must be responsible for this problem.”
The announcement of the verdict takes place after the court held a hearing in this case on 09 September.
SRP MP Ho Vann was sued by 22 high-ranking army officers for defamation after he made a comment to The Cambodia Daily on 20 April in which he allegedly accused the diplomas obtained by these high-ranking army officers, who completed their degrees in Vietnam, as being valueless and lacking in quality. Later on, he apologized and asked the newspaper to publish a correction.
The Cambodia Daily which quoted Ho Vann was also subjected to the lawsuit and it was charged with spreading defamation.
The Phnom Penh municipal court delivered is verdict on 22 September and Kevin Doyle, the editor-in-chief of The Cambodia Daily, as well as Neou Vannarin, a reporter for The Cambodia Daily, were both sentenced with a 4 million riels (~$1,000) fine each for spreading defamation news, however the court dropped the charge against SRP MP Ho Vann.
Sin Visal, the judge for the Phnom Penh municipal court, read the verdict sentencing 41-year-old Kevin Doyle and 26-year-old Neou Vannarin to pay 4 million riels in fine each for spreading defamation news in a report published on 21 April 2009.
The judge also announced that it dropped the defamation charge against 62-year-old SRP MP Ho Vann.
SRP MP Chea Poch, who attended the verdict announcement, told reporters outside the courtroom that he is very pleased by this verdict.
Chea Poch said: “I believe that this is good, and it [helps] push Cambodia towards democracy. Just now, I called my colleagues to tell them to announce the news to Mr. Ho Vann immediately so that he returns back to Cambodia.”
Kevin Doyle indicated that he has no comment on this issue.
Am Sam Ath, the investigation director for the Licadho human rights group said: “Dropping the charges against Mr. Ho Vann is correct, however, the sentence on the editor-in-chief of The Cambodia Daily and one of its reporters to pay 4 million riels in fine, this is not fair for the pair.”
Chan Soveth, an investigation official for the Adhoc human rights group, declared: “However, we regret to see the sentence on the reporters, this is why our news media are also facing with problems. The attention is a lesson for reporters, they must be responsible for this problem.”
The announcement of the verdict takes place after the court held a hearing in this case on 09 September.
SRP MP Ho Vann was sued by 22 high-ranking army officers for defamation after he made a comment to The Cambodia Daily on 20 April in which he allegedly accused the diplomas obtained by these high-ranking army officers, who completed their degrees in Vietnam, as being valueless and lacking in quality. Later on, he apologized and asked the newspaper to publish a correction.
The Cambodia Daily which quoted Ho Vann was also subjected to the lawsuit and it was charged with spreading defamation.
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