New Zealander Graham Cleghorn, serving 20 year in Cambodia's Prey Sar prison for rape, has called for the investigation into the handling of his case after Appeals Court president Ly Vuoch Leng was removed in a bribery scandal
- From: Chim <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2007 03:26:05 -0700
Wednesday August 29, 06:19 PM
NZer calls for inquiry over his Cambodia sex conviction
A New Zealander serving 20 years in a Cambodian jail for rape has
called for a full investigation into the handling of his case by
Cambodian courts.
Graham Robert Cleghorn, 60, called for the investigation in a recent
prison interview after Appeals Court president Ly Vuoch Leng was
removed last month in a bribery scandal involving another case.
Cleghorn's family has since claimed that they were asked for money
prior to his failed appeal earlier this month.
"An inquiry is the only way," he said. "I want a full investigation
into my case."
Cleghorn was convicted of raping five female former employees by Siem
Reap Provincial Court, around 300kms north of the capital, in 2004.
He maintains he was set up by local women's group, the Cambodian
Women's Crisis Centre (CWCC), which he claims stood to gain donor
funding through high-profile arrests, and powerful interests wanting
his land on the edge of the Angkor Wat temple complex.
The CWCC has vigorously denied the allegations and warned that those
who support Cleghorn are also supporting the paedophiles and sex
tourists that Cambodia has long been regarded as a haven for.
Cleghorn claimed he had remained quiet about documentary evidence his
family alleges it has proving bribes were asked, due to fears for his
safety.
"They can make your life very difficult in here if they want to,"
Cleghorn said. The former tour guide from Wellington rubs shoulders
with the country's most notorious criminals in Prey Sar prison.
"All I am asking is for someone to join the dots. Just investigate. In
fact, I am begging," he said. "The removal of Ly Vuoch Leng leaves a
big question mark hanging in the air over my case."
Foreign affairs officials in New Zealand are planning to meet
Cleghorn's family to discuss the allegations of corruption in the
case.
However, last month Cambodia's appeal court rejected his appeal.
Cleghorn's daughter, Heidi Madeley, raised allegations of requests for
bribes in the case earlier this week.
.
- Prev by Date: Lawyers in Cambodia seek release of detained former Khmer Rouge prison chief
- Next by Date: Foreign private equity funds are keen on acquiring Muhibbah Engineering Bhd's airport concessionaires in Cambodia and its shipyard business
- Previous by thread: Lawyers in Cambodia seek release of detained former Khmer Rouge prison chief
- Next by thread: Foreign private equity funds are keen on acquiring Muhibbah Engineering Bhd's airport concessionaires in Cambodia and its shipyard business
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
