Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Beaten MPs to seek stiffer sentencing for Bodyguard Unit attackers

Beaten MPs to seek stiffer sentencing for Bodyguard Unit attackers

Sot Vanny (left) and Mao Hoeun (right), pictured appearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in April for beating two CNRP lawmakers.
Sot Vanny (left) and Mao Hoeun (right), pictured appearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in April for beating two CNRP lawmakers. Pha Lina

Beaten MPs to seek stiffer sentencing for Bodyguard Unit attackers

The lawyer for two opposition lawmakers brutally beaten by at least 16 men outside the National Assembly last year will next week file an appeal against the largely suspended sentence given to three of the attackers.

Soldiers Mao Hoeung, Sut Vanny and Chhay Sarith were sentenced to four years in prison over the brutal attack on CNRP lawmakers Kong Saphea and Nhay Chamroeun, though all but a year was suspended. Counting time already served, the trio will be out in five months.

Attorney Sam Sokong said he would lodge documents with the Appeal Court and the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia calling for a stiffer penalty for the three, who are members of the prime minister’s Bodyguard Unit.

He said the filing would also reference the recent seven-year sentence handed to three opposition members for their alleged role in a 2014 post-election protest that turned violent. “If we compare the action and punishment, they are not consistent,” Sokong said, suggesting a term of between six and seven years.

Chamroeun, who required surgery for his injuries, yesterday called his attackers’ sentence “a joke”.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the