Deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha has begun recruiting personal advisers to assist with his new role as first deputy president of parliament.

Sokha, who received the post under a July 22 deal with the ruling CPP, said yesterday that he has found two candidates to serve as his legal advisers.

Say Bory, an adviser to King Norodom Sihamoni and a prominent lawyer once appointed by the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk to the Constitutional Council, is one.

The other, Sa Sovan, is also a well-known attorney. Both Bory and Sovan have previously served as defence co-lawyers for former Khmer Rouge leader Khieu Samphan at the UN-backed tribunal.

“I am also looking for some more lawyers to help oversee all 10 commissions and oversee all 28 ministries,” he said.

However, assembly spokesman Nhem Thavy said that commission heads had the right to appoint their own advisers. He declined to comment on Sokha proposing advisers for ministries.