Khmer Power Party chief Sourn Serey Ratha yesterday submitted a defamation lawsuit against Foreign Minister Hor Namhong to the Appeal Court after the case was tossed out by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in January.

Ratha’s original suit, filed on December 21 in response to remarks by Namhong calling him a “terrorist mastermind”, was rejected in a January 29 court letter that did not specify the grounds of the decision.

“We have not received justice,” Ratha said yesterday, reiterating past remarks that he has little to no hope the court will actually deliver justice, and vowing to take the case to the Supreme Court.

“I hold my stance firmly. My lawsuit is to show . . . that the court just serves the interests and protects the power of the ruling party,” he said.

Kar Savuth, Namhong’s de-fence lawyer, yesterday said he cared little about the appeal, accusing Ratha of engaging in a publicity stunt for the KPP.

“He just filed the complaint because he wants to be famous,” Savuth said. “So, he sued His Excellency Hor Namhong . . . [so] people may vote for him.”