Breaking: Court postpones appeal of Kem Ley’s killer

Niem Chheng and Ananth Baliga | Publication date 03 April 2018 | 16:29 ICT

p

Oeut Ang, also known as Choub Samlab, or ‘meet to kill’, sits in a prison truck in March 2017 upon arrival at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. A hearing over his sentence was postponed on Tuesday afternoon. Pha Lina

The Appeal Court on Tuesday postponed a hearing for Oeut Ang, the former solider convicted killing political commentator Kem Ley, as prison police had not brought him to court.

Ang, who in past court appearances has repeatedly given his name as “Choub Samlab”, or ‘meet to kill’, was convicted and received a life sentence last March for premeditated murder and illegal gun possession. He is appealing his sentence.

Kem Ley was gunned down in July 2016 as he drank coffee at a Phnom Penh convenience store.

A panel of three judges said Prey Sar prison officials had received a summons, but Lor Kin Ghech, Ang’s lawyer, said prison officials told him they had not received the document.

“They said they have not received the summons and may not bring him,” Ghech said.

Also absent was Ley’s widow Bou Rachana, whom the court again listed as the plaintiff. Rachana has repeatedly said she has not filed a complaint and has been dismissive of the court’s proceedings. She and her five sons were recently granted asylum in Australia.