PHNOM PENH: The Paris court has officially announced its verdict that Hun Prime Minister Hun Sen was not behind the death of Hok Lundy as alleged by opposition leader Sam Rainsy in the past. The Prime Minister’s lawyer, Ky Tech, shared this announcement on Monday, 10 October 2022.

Following the French court’s announcement, Prime Minister Hun Sen shared the content of the verdict all night, writing, “From Cambodia to France, I just want to please ask all of you who know French to read the whole article issued by the French court to understand this matter clearly."

"Sam Rainsy did not provide any specific evidence to substantiate his claim that the cause of the (Hok Lundy) incident was an explosion and not bad weather like the Civil Parties had presented and faked the real circumstances of Hok Lundy's death,” he added.

The court verdict stated, "low-quality photographic content of the wreckage could not be demonstrated, in the absence of expertise, as damage caused to the helicopter due to an explosion rather than a crash."

The verdict also stated that the whole story and facts relating to the allegations are trivial and designed in a way to leave room for suspicion that Prime Minister Hun Sen was involved in causing Hok Lundy’s death.

The French court further stated that "the accusation against Hun Sen supports two political conspiracies and seeks to conceal the real situation, undermining the honor and reputation of the Civil Parties.”

On the other hand, despite the announcement of this verdict, Sam Rainsy made a contradictory post on his official Facebook page claiming that his lawyer had announced “our client received an acquittal in the Paris court today with excitement.”

"By declaring that Sam Rainsy was innocent, the French court solemnly recognized that Sam Rainsy's struggle was right and the court protected his right to freedom of expression," Sam Rainsy wrote.

The Prime Minister’s lawyer, Ky Tech, said that the documents that Sam Rainsy submitted to the press were vague and complicated, which the court could not accept as valid.

"The court also gave reasons to make it clear that Sam Rainsy did indefinitely defame Samdech Techo," he said.

It should also be noted that Prime Minister Hun Sen and Dy Vichea's lawsuit against Sam Rainsy was filed in a court in Paris, France on 20 August 2019. A French investigative judge had also charged Sam Rainsy on public defamation against an individual on 8 June 2020.

The Prime Minister decided to sue Sam Rainsy for a message he posted on his Facebook page and for something he said during an interview with the Voice of America (VOA). Sam Rainsy had accused the Cambodian Prime Minister of 1) killing or being the mastermind behind the assassination of Hok Lundy, 2) ordered the killing of Chea Vichea.

These allegations made by Sam Rainsy are the reason why Prime Minister Hun Sen decided to file a lawsuit in a French court, for which the court ruled that this was a violation of the domain of freedom of expression.