CAMBODIA'S SPYING CHARGE : Mother arrives in Cambodia as court sets to rule Tuesday

Mon, December 7, 2009

(Posted by CAAI News Media)

The mother of the Thai engineer detained in Cambodia on spy charges arrived in Phnom Penh on Monday ahead of the court ruling on her son's spying charge the case expected on Tuesday.

Simarak Na Nakhon Panom was accompanied by Thai Foreign Ministry's deputy director general of Consular affairs Madurapochana Ittarong of the Ministry.

Simarak said she hoped for a positive result from the court ruling on the case of her son Siwarak Chutipong. "However I am also prepared for a negative outcome," she said before leaving for Phnom Penh.

She insisted that the decision to change a lawyer recommended by Thai foreign ministry was advised by Sivrak's friends in Cambodia and it should not be considered a political game.

The mother said she will do whatever she can to help out her son, Simarak said, adding the Thai foreign ministry understood her condition.

Meanwhile Madurapochana said the ministry continued providing assistance to help Sivarak and she is due to meet his new lawyer at the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh Monday afternoon.

The court is expected to rule on Tuesday, she said, and if he is found guilty, she will then talk to the lawyer to determine what to do next. She also asked permission for the mother to visit her son on Monday but has not yet received an answer from the Khmer officials.

Opposition Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit saw Simarak off at Suvarnabhumi Airport and showed her a draft of a letter by former prime minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to submit requesting a royal amnesty if her son is found guilty.

Simarak also asked Prompong to contact ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra through his former legal advisor Noppadon Pattama to help her son.