Former bar president back on top

Members of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia attend a meeting yesterday in Phnom Penh where Suon Visal was voted back to the position of president. Photo supplied

Twelve years after being ousted as president of the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia (BAKC) amid a bitter dispute with the prime minister’s attorney, human rights lawyer Suon Visal has been voted back into the lawyer association’s top position.

Visal, who was previously BAKC’s secretary-general and narrowly lost out in the body’s 2012 vote to outgoing president Bun Honn, yesterday received 622 votes at the election in Phnom Penh, easily beating Chhiv Sambath, who garnered 244.

The recipient of a masters degree from the University of Hong Kong in 2002, the 51-year-old, who was unreachable yesterday, has represented former Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea at the Khmer Rouge tribunal.

He was elected president of the bar in 2004, but lost the position after being accused of forging a stamp. The dispute pitted him against Hun Sen’s lawyer Ky Tech, the incumbent president at the time.

The BAKC, which has been accused of supporting the Cambodian People’s Party by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, counts 978 registered attorneys as members.

Contact author: Kim Sarom

MOST VIEWED

Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO
Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in
Ream base allegations must end, urges official
A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical
Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing
To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable
CP denied registration documents by ministry
The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do
Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit
Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former
After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024
The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.