"Unionists called to court seven years after protest", 21 January 2019

Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW) president Pav Sina and six other union members were summoned to appear at Phnom Penh Municipal Court … over a protest…

A court summons, … issued by the court’s deputy prosecutor Heng Pheng, named the men who are due to appear as Sina, 37; Chheng Chhoan, 33; Chheng Sina, 43; Pen Sitho, 32; Huon Bunna, 32; Tuy Suot, 39; and Un Vanduy, 32.

They stand accused of “public insult and intentionally causing damage” after a protest at Ocean Garment Co in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district … in violation of Articles 307 and 410 of the Criminal Code…

Sina … that he had received the court summons. However, he said he needs to discuss with his co-defendants before saying whether he will attend court on the proposed date.

“I think the court should completely drop the charges because the factory closed a long time ago. The case was filed against me in 2012 and now in 2019 the court summoned me. I almost forgot about this case,” he said.

Sina said he has had seven lawsuits filed against him, while his colleagues have had 14 lawsuits filed against them…

…, approximately 1,500 garment workers participated in a protest in front of Ocean Garment Co over unpaid salaries and suspension pay…

The factory offered each worker only $15 for the duration of their suspension…

Municipal Court spokesman Y Rin said he did not know what verdict the investigating judge would come to.