Appeal court continues to delay Sam Rainsy’s case; 2 prisoners brought to court returned back to detention

Mrs. Meas Srey (L) and Prum Chea (2nd from left) are seen during their appearance in court on 30 August 2010 (Photo: Koh Santepheap) Monday 30 August 2010 Koh Santepheap news Translated from Khmer by Soy
Phnom Penh – The Appeal court continues to delay the case involving opposition leader Sam Rainsy and two other prisoners, 40-yr-old Mrs. Meas Srey and 41-yr-old Prum Chea. The delay order was issued after the two prisoners were brought over to court from the Kandal prison on 30 August 2010. However, the Appeal court ordered that the pair be taken back because it just received the request letter to nominate defense lawyers for the pair, and therefore the court was unprepared for this situation. At 07:30AM on Monday 30 August, Kandal prison guards brought Prum Chea and Mrs. Meas Srey to the Appeal court as planned. After spending about 20 minutes in the hearing chamber, the court clerk indicated that their case cannot be decided on 30 August because the court does not have their criminal files yet. Khun Leang Meng, the Appeal court judge, spoke outside the hearing chamber that the court just received the request for the nomination of defense lawyers for the pair, and that it was somewhat late, so the court is unprepared and the hearing will be delayed to another date. The guards took the pair back to the Kandal prison and they said that they received the court summons to bring the pair to their hearing on 30 August morning. The summons was signed by Nget Sarath, and it ordered that Mrs. Meas Srey and Prum Chea be brought to court for the hearing on 30 August 2010