(Posted by CAAI News Media)
MP Mu Sochua tells reporters at the Appeal Court yesterday that she will not give up the case and promise to fight till the end.
Mu Sochua was convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in August for defaming Hun Sen during an April press conference, in which she announced plans to sue the premier for allegedly insulting her. The court also ordered her to pay more than US$4,000 in a fine and compensation to Hun Sen.
After a Wednesday appeal hearing, Judge Seng Sivutha said the court decided to uphold the conviction, ruling that Mu Sochua did defame Hun Sen and “incited other women to hate” the premier.
During the trial, Mu Sochua represented herself. Ky Tech, the premier’s lawyer, confirmed that “Mu Sochua has not sought for any lawyers besides Kong Sam On and Sok Sam Oeun among more than 600 lawyers in Cambodia, so that it is not the case that no lawyer dares to defend her.”
“Lawyer Kong Sam On confessed his own mistakes and asked for to stop the being her lawyer,” Ky Tech added.
Ky Tech told the Appeal Court Mu Sochua had intentionally defamed the premier’s reputation and honor.
Mu Sochua confirmed that she will go on to the Supreme Court.
Mu Sochua, Sam Rainsy Party Lawmaker, on Wednesday said that she will seek to take her case to the Supreme Court after the Phnom Penh Appeal Court upheld the previous verdict of the Municipal Court that the opposition lawmaker had defamed Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
“If she goes on at Supreme Court, I, being a lawyer of the premier, will go on at supreme court to face with her,” Ky Tech told reporters.
Mu Sochua told reporters that the Appeal Court’s ruling was unjust and politically motivated.
Koul Pahna, COFREM Executive Director, told DAP News Cambodia that the it is individual right for Mu Sochua to file complaint to Supreme Court.
“However, the politicians in Cambodia should not file complaints against each other in defamation case,” Koul Pahna added.
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