The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Appeal Court to review the case of a woman who was sentenced to eight years in prison for sending another woman to China for marriage.
Supreme Court Judge Soeng Panhavuth said the lower court’s decision lacked legal basis.
“The case of Vorn Sreymom, 32, who was charged with unlawful removal for cross-border transfer, needs to be reviewed because there were some legal points the Appeal Court did not consider according to the law,” he said.
During the trial, Sreymom denied the police accusation that she had sent the unidentified victim, 25, to China for marriage. She claimed she only gave the victim’s phone number to a man known as Pho Tong Nam, who worked as an agent trafficking people to China.
“I only gave the victim’s phone number to the man. I asked the court to give me justice. I have six small children who are living with their elderly grandma,” she said.
According to court documents, Sreymom asked Tong Nam to arrange a marriage for the victim after she approached her in 2015.
While in China, the victim called her family claiming she was beaten by her Chinese husband.
That prompted the family to file a complaint, leading to the arrest of Sreymom and Tong Nam.