Ten unionists from the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union (C.CAWDU) were given suspended six-month prison sentences on Monday, resulting from violence at the E Garment factory in Kandal province almost three years ago.

The court found that the C.CAWDU members, former employees of the factory, were involved in a clash with four other workers – who were also given suspended sentences – in July 2010.

The opposing parties were ordered to pay each other $3,000.

C.CAWDU, however, claims its union members were victims of an attack.

“They did not hit anyone, but they were seriously beaten,” said Um Visal, a C.CAWDU legal officer.

E Garment officials and a factory-aligned union could not be reached yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mom Kunthear at [email protected]