Ex-Adhoc official guilty

FORMER Adhoc staffer Ny Chakrya was yesterday sentenced to six months in jail and fined 6 million riel (about $1,460) after being convicted of defaming two Siem Reap court officials in a case widely seen as judicial har- assment of the rights group.

The year-old case stems from criticisms by Chakrya – who now works with the National Election Committee – of the Siem Reap court officials after they arrested two residents of Chup Romdeng village in Svay Leu district who were involved in a high-profile land dispute.

Last June, the villagers – Ven Lorn and Beourn Sok – were found guilty of inciting a group of residents to destroy and intrude on the property of agricultural development firm Community Takhmao Development Agricultural & Industrial.

But after Chakrya aired his criticisms at a press confer- ence, investigating judge Ky Rithy and deputy prosecutor Sok Keo Bandith accused him of public defamation, acts of slanderous denunciation, and publication of commentaries to put pressure on the judiciary. They also claimed he had accused them of colluding to commit corruption.

While the case’s first hearing in July was postponed due to the absence of the plaintiffs, the pair were again absent yesterday, with their lawyer, En Yoeun, presenting as evidence an audio recording and clippings of coverage of Chakrya’s CONTINUED

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AMEER ALHALBI/AFP A Syrian man carries a baby after removing him from the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported airstrike in the Qatarji neighbourhood of the northern city of Aleppo on Wednesday.