Court overturns casino closure order

ON OCTOBER 5, the Cambodian Court of Appeal issued a ruling in favour of Somboon Sukcharoenkraisri overturning the decision of the Banteay Meanchey Court of First Instance which was obtained by Donaco International Limited and its affiliated company DNA Star Vegas Co Ltd, which had previously ordered the temporary closure of the Star Paradise and Star Paramax casinos located in Poipet.

In its recent ruling obtained by The Post, the Court of Appeal has dismissed the allegations previously made by Donaco and DNA Star Vegas against the defendants.

It found that the allegations had not been based on any reliable evidence which indicated or proved any such alleged involvement of Sukcharoenkraisri.

The Court of Appeal also ruled that the injunction requested by Donaco and DNA Star Vegas was made in violation of various provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure of Cambodia.

In December last year, Donaco and DNA Star Vegas obtained an injunction against Sukcharoenkraisri, Lee Bug Tong, Lee Bug Huy, MMD Travel Agency, Travel Company Limited and Lee Hoe Property Co, Ltd, ordering the temporary closure of the Star Paradise and Star Paramax casinos.

The injunction was overturned com- pletely by the Court of Appeal’s recent order on grounds that neither of the casinos are owned or operated by Sukcharoenkraisri.

Hence, the ruling of the Court of Appeal is final and binding upon Donaco and DNA Star Vegas and the previous injunction is no longer in effect.

The Post has learnt that Sukcharoenkraisri and other parties who are alleged to have suffered loss and damage caused by the injunction and the actions of Donaco and DNA Star, have engaged lawyers in Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and Australia, and intend to file proceedings, including for defamation, against Donaco and DNA Star.