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Cambodian opposition leader fined 6,250 USD for defamation

Xinhua, November 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Cambodian court on Tuesday ordered self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy to pay a fine and compensation of 25 million riel (6,250 U.S. dollars) for defaming a senior official, according to a verdict.

Ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP)'s website administrator Som Soeun filed a complaint against Rainsy on March 10, a day after the opposition leader on his Facebook page accused him of advising CPP supporters and officials, including civil servants, police and militar, to create fake Facebook accounts to click "likes" for Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's Facebook page.

Soeun, who is also a minister attached to the prime minister, said that Rainsy's groundless accusation dishonored the prime minister and himself.

The senior official and his lawyers were present at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday to hear the verdict, as Rainsy and his lawyer were absent.

"After thoroughly looking into the documents and evidence, the court found that Sam Rainsy has bad intention to discredit Som Soeun and the court decides to fine Sam Rainsy 10 million riel (2,500 U.S. dollars) and orders him to pay 15 million riel (3,750 U.S. dollars) in compensation to the plaintiff," said the verdict pronounced by Presiding Judge Im Vannak.

Speaking to reporters after the verdict, Soeun said "the verdict was just" and he was satisfied with it.

Rainsy, leader of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, has been in self-imposed exile in France since November last year to avoid a two-year sentence in a 2008 defamation case brought by Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong.

In July, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court also ordered Rainsy to pay a compensation and fine of 160 million riel (40,000 U.S. dollars) after the court found him guilty of defaming National Assembly President Heng Samrin.

Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen denied in March that he bought "likes" on his Facebook page. The prime minister launched his Facebook page in September last year. As of Tuesday, his page attracted over 6.12 million likes, while Rainsy's page received only 3.3 million likes. Endit