"Land dispute activist handed suspended sentence", 15 August 2020

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court … convicted a land rights activist of incitement to commit a felony and handed her a one-year suspended sentence for her involvement in a long-running land dispute in Kampong Chhnang province.

The court sentenced Oum Sophy and former Lor Peang village chief Touch Ly in absentia, giving them each a one-year suspended jail term, a decision Sophy said was unjust.

Judge Tithsothy Borachath announced the verdict, finding Sophy and Ly guilty of inciting villagers to cultivate land belonging to agricultural company KDC, which is owned by Chea Kheng, wife of Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem.

“The court has decided to sentence Oum Sophy and Touch Ly to one year each in prison, but all sentences have been suspended,” he said, adding that he had also ordered both women to pay compensation of 1 million riel each ($250) to the plaintiff.

Sophy, 41, said … that the court’s decision is unjust.

“I have done nothing wrong, so why have they [the court] convicted me and sentenced me to one year in prison?” she said.

“I cannot accept this decision, it is really unjust,” she continued, adding that she said she would speak with her lawyers before filing an appeal…

Am Sam Ath, deputy director at rights group Licadho, said that these outcomes place a heavier burden on poor people, especially those who have been embroiled in land disputes.

“As we know, villagers who have been suffering from land disputes, when they are found guilty, they still have to pay compensation,” he said…