Acid attackers’ parents want restrictions lifted

Moung Srey Mom receives medical attention in Phnom Penh last year for injuries sustained in a 2014 acid attack. Eli Meixler

Acid attackers’ parents want restrictions lifted

Thu, 3 March 2016 ppp

Kim Sarom

Two suspects in an acid attack in Takeo province yesterday appealed to the Supreme Court to lift a court-mandated supervision order.

Nhe Deng, 63, and Seng Kimleng, 55, were accused of ordering their children Beng Leakhena and Beng Meas to douse a woman and her 2-year-old daughter with acid during a November 2014 business dispute.

The victim, Moung Srey Mom, who was pregnant at the time, lost her baby after the attack. Leakhena and Meas fled to Vietnam and remain at large.

A lower court found no evidence that Deng and Kimleng were involved in the attack but still placed the couple under court supervision.

They are not to leave the country or change address without approval, and must attend court when summonsed.

After an Appeals Court request to have the supervision order lifted was denied, Deng and Kimleng turned to the Supreme Court.

Their defence lawyer yesterday reminded the court that witnesses did not see them at the market on the day of the attack.

However, Supreme Court prosecutor Veng Bun Thouen yesterday said he “would like the court to uphold the decision and keep the two under court supervision”.

Srey Mom’s husband Luy Sovannaroth, who went to yesterday’s hearing with their acid-injured daughter, asked the judge to “please find justice for my family”.

The verdict is due March 9.