Former Police Chief Handed Seven More Years in Prison

Former Police Chief Handed Seven More Years in Prison
Mony Mony
Phnom Penh
22/03/2007


Former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov was sentenced seven years in
prison Thursday for illegally locking up a woman for more than two
months, as a series of hearings shedding light on the dubious nature
of Cambodia's security apparatus continued.

Heng Kim Leang, a high school teacher from Kampong Speu, told Phnom
Penh Municipal Court she had been held for 70 days in 2005 after she
was accused of bribing authorities to release her brother, who had
been accused of robbery, a charge she denied.

An underling, Ly Rasy, the former deputy chief of Phnom Penh's minor
crime bureau , received six years on the same charge.

The court ordered Heng Pov and Ly Rasy to pay $25,000 each to
compensate Heng Kim Leang.

Heng Pov's lawyer said he would appeal the decision.

Heng Pov, a former adviser to Prime Minster Hun Sen, is already
serving 18 years for the murder of a judge. He was cleared of
extortion charges Wednesday but faces more criminal charges in coming
days.

He fled the country last year and sought refuge in Europe from
Malaysia. He penned lengthy statement before he was extradited that
blamed Prime Minister Hun Sen for a 1997 grenade attack on an
opposition rally and pinned the murder of popular actress Piseth
Pilika on National Police Chief Hok Lundy.

.

Relevant Pages