Cambodia court orders self-exiled opposition leader to pay 40,000 USD for defamation case

A Cambodian court on Thursday ordered self-exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy to pay a compensation and fine of 160 million riel (40,000 U.S. dollars) after the court found him guilty of defaming National Assembly president Heng Samrin.

"The court orders Sam Rainsy to pay a compensation of 150 million riel (37,500 U.S. dollars) to the plaintiff and a fine of 10 million riel (2,500 U.S. dollars)," said the verdict pronounced by Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Ros Piseth.

The verdict was released after a 40-minute hearing in which the plaintiff's lawyer was present, as Sam Rainsy and his lawyer were absent.

Heng Samrin filed a defamation suit against Sam Rainsy in December after the opposition leader posted a video clip on his Facebook page in November, claiming that Heng Samrin, who was the top leader during the 1980s regime, had indicted late King Norodom Sihanouk of being a traitor and sentenced him, in absentia, to death.

Sam Rainsy, leader of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, has been in self-imposed exile in France since November to avoid a two-year-prison sentence in a 2008 defamation case brought by Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong.

（APD）