Over 1 Million Visit Siem Reap During Four-Day Khmer New Year Festivities | Cambodian Prime Minister to Open UN-ESCAP’s 80th Session in Bangkok | A Picture Tells a Thousand Words: Happy Chaul Chnam Thmey | Cambodian Artists Shine at China-ASEAN Intangible Cultural Heritage Week |

Phnom Penh Municipal Court Releases 17-Year Old Teenager Kak Sovanchhay

Phnom Penh: He is probably a minor, 17-year-old Kak Sovanchhay will be released by the court on Monday, 8 November, after serving four months and 15 days in prison. This was confirmed by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Kak Sovanchhay was charged and detained on charges of inciting serious social unrest and has made insulting comments last June by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, and on 1 November, the court has sentenced the young man to eight months in prison. He has served four months and 15 days in jail until his release on Monday. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has confirmed that the suspension was "primarily for the benefit of minors".

 A statement from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court says that the teenager has committed similar acts in the past. But he was considered as a minor then who committed the crime for the first time, but he did not change his ways. The court also dismissed the claim that Kak Sovanchhay had autism, saying that according to the medical examination, the young man was normal like other teenagers his age.

 The Phnom Penh Municipal Court's statement comes after criticism of legal action and the sentencing of Sovanchhay by some civil society groups about his “disability.” US Ambassador to Cambodia Partrick Murphy wrote on his Twitter account on 1 November that he was saddened to hear that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court has sentenced an underage to prison under what appears to be political influence. And has raised question regarding the imprisonment of the opposition teenager, a violation of human rights?

 Ministry of Justice and Human Rights Committee spokesman Jean Malin has responded that the sentencing was not a violation of human rights, but a promotion of human rights and the rule of law in a democratic society. A human rights violation is the extrajudicial killing of suspects based on color and race.


Related News