Court case between Industry Minister’s wife and rights worker

Phnom Penh (13 Jan, 2012):  Human rights worker Sam Chankea expressed his disappointment after the Court of Appeal has uphold his sentence over a charge of defaming KDC International company owner Ms Chea Kheng, the wife of Industry Minister Suy Sem.

Last January, Ms Chea Kheng filed a criminal lawsuit against Mr Chankea to Kampong Chhnang provincial court after Mr Chankea had told Radio Free Asia that her company grabbed 64 families’ 145 hectares of land in Kampong Chhnang province.

The court then charged Mr Chankea on defaming Ms Chea Kheng and fined him US$250 and ordered him to pay compensation to Ms Chea Kheng US$750.

With claiming unjustness for him, Mr Chankea decided to file a complaint to the Court of Appeal last year and yesterday, Mr Chankea was surprised while the Court of Appeal tried him in absentia by upholding his case and increasing the fine from US$250 to US$500 and compensation from US$750 to US$1.000. CN staff