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Cambodian opposition lawmakers seek intervention from king over case of their deputy leader

Xinhua, May 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) lawmakers on Monday afternoon delivered a petition to the Royal Palace in order to seek intervention from King Norodom Sihamoni over the case of CNRP deputy leader and lawmaker Kem Sokha.

Some 36 opposition lawmakers marched the petition by cars from the party's headquarters on the southern outskirts of Phnom Penh to the Royal Palace.

At first, heavy security forces had set up a blockroad about 500 meters from the party's headquarters to stop the lawmakers and their supporters from marching to the Royal Palace, but after a negotiation, the authorities allowed the lawmakers to continue their journey as their supporters travelled by tuk-tuks and motorcycles were ordered to return to the party's headquarters.

There was no report of clashes between police and protesters.

The CNRP sought intervention from the monarch after the National Assembly on Monday morning voted to allow the authorities to continue legal action against Kem Sokha for ignoring court summonses twice in a prostitution case involving his alleged mistress.

"Sixty-eight lawmakers out of the total (123) lawmakers have agreed to allow the authorities to continue taking action in line with procedures over the case of Kem Sokha, a lawmaker for Kampong Cham province," National Assembly President Heng Samrin announced the result of the vote.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court last Thursday requested police to arrest Sokha for committing a "red-handed" crime of ignoring court summonses twice.

The court charged him with "refusal to appear" under the article 538 of the Penal Code. Under the charge, Sokha could face a prison term of between one and six months.

The court explained that because Sokha committed the "red-handed" crime, his parliamentary immunity could not protect him against the arrest.

Sokha is believed to be hiding in the party's headquarters since last Thursday. Enditem