Prime Minister Hun Sen poses for a photo with officials at the inauguration of the Court of Justice building on June 26. SPM
In an effort to streamline the resolution of court cases and tackle a mounting backlog, Prime Minister Hun Sen has issued a call to action for Cambodia’s judicial system. He urged careful attention to crucial areas, during the opening of a “Court of Justice” building that serves both the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and Court of Appeal on June 26.
“We must ensure timely dispute resolution, fostering solidarity and societal harmony by reconciling opposing viewpoints,” he said.
Illustrating the urgency for swift justice and a reduction of outstanding court cases, the premier highlighted a situation in Stung Treng province where individuals faced prolonged detention without a hearing.
“They were supposed to be jailed for two years by law, but ended up in detention for four years without a court hearing. These were due to a number of factors including a lack of judges, hearings and legal representatives … But we’ve made improvements and now we have built places for hearings, thus they no longer need to cry for intervention,” he elaborated.
Hun Sen urged a boost in judicial activity, advocating for an increase in the number of judges and regional appeal courts.
“We must not allow case files to languish. We need to empower our judges to exhaust every avenue in dispute resolution, particularly in civil cases,” he noted.
Minister of Justice Koeut Rith echoed Hun Sen’s sentiments, disclosing that 151,933 old and new cases were pending nationwide in 2022, including 93,321 criminal cases and 58,612 civil ones.
“Resolution through mediation and reconciliation both in court and out of court is encouraged. This approach holds strong legal value and can expedite the resolution process, benefiting all litigants,” he said.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, agreed with the call for expedited trials, asserting that swift proceedings could alleviate prison overcrowding and uphold detainee rights.
Am Sam Ath, deputy director of rights group LICADHO, welcomed Hun Sen’s recommendation.
“Many cases have been held up in courts for years, seriously affecting detainee rights. Speedier judicial solutions and out-of-court settlements are needed,” he said.
He suggested that the justice ministry accelerate judicial solutions in criminal cases, which can help ease overcrowding in prisons.
