Court postpones charging two men in Chea Vichea�s murder
PHNOM PENH, Jan. 30, 2004�Phnom Penh police are now looking for a third man,identified as Mr. Chith, in connection with the Jan. 22 murder of prominentCambodian labor leader Chea Vichea, RFA reports.
"I sent my men to look for Mr. Chith and hope he will be arrested soon if heis still in Cambodia," Phnom Penh police chief Heng Peou told RFA�s Khmerservice. He said he doubted Mr. Chith had masterminded Chea Vichea'sslaying.
Born Samnang, confessed killer in Chea Vichea's Jan. 22 murder.Born Samnang, who has confessed to the killing, said in an interview todaythat a Mr. Chith had first approached Sok Sam Oeun, whom he knew personally,with the offer of $5,000 for killing Chea Vichea. Sok Sam Oeun then askedBorn Samnang if he was interested in the job.
On Jan. 22, two gunmen approached Chea Vichea as he stood at a busynewspaper kiosk in Phnom Penh and shot him in the chest and head beforespeeding away on a motorcycle. Chea Vichea died instantly.
Sok Sam Oeun, alleged accomplice in Chea Vichea'smurder.On Jan. 28, police arrested Born Samnang, 23, in eastern Prey Veng Province, and Sok Sam Oeun, 28, in Phnom Penh. Born Samnang has since confessed to being the hitman in the murder, identifying as his accomplice Sok Sam Oeun, who has vehemently denied the accusation.
�Even though [Sok Sam Oeun has] denied the accusations, the police have theevidence to prove both men were involved,� Heng Peou told RFA. He indicatedearlier that police had confiscated a loaded pistol, K-54 bullets,handcuffs, and four holsters from the two suspects.
On Friday, the two men were escorted into court by 10 police officers totingmachine guns, when Sok Sam Oeun shouted to journalists �I did not commitmurder. Police have not arrested the real criminal. I am innocent. This is afalse arrest.�
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Born Samnang later told RFA, �Let me tell you the truth. I am the murdererof Chea Vichea, who was killed on Jan. 22 at 9:30 a.m. Sok Sam Oeun was thedriver of the motorcycle [on which we approached Chea Vichea].�
�After the murder, Sok Sam Oeun and I received $1,500, which we splitbetween us, each getting $750,� Born Samnang said, adding that they were toreceive $3,500 at a later date. �I don�t regret [killing Chea Vichea]because I needed the money. My parents do not treat me like a son anymore. Iam no longer allowed to live with them.�The Phnom Penh Municipal Court postponed charging the two men because ofdiscrepancies between Born Samnang's confession and Sok Sam Oeun's denial.�I cannot charge them today because I need more time to ask questions of thetwo men. It is a complicated matter,� deputy prosecutor Khuth Sopheang said.
Earlier this week, 36-year-old Va Sothy, the owner of the newspaper kioskwhere Chea Vichea was shot, told RFA she fears for her life and has askedhuman rights groups and United Nations (UN) staff for protection. She saidthree men who identified themselves as U.N. staff came to her kiosk to lookfor her and wanted her to go with them for her protection. She has so fardenied seeing the faces of the two men who killed Chea Vichea.
On Friday, Phnom Penh police arrested Men Vattana for sending a death threatto Chea Vichea on July 22. Men Vattana had admitted on a Cambodian People�sParty-supported television station he sent the threatening e-mail and waspaid $100 by Sam Rainsy Party secretary Eng Chhay Eang. Men Vattana claimedto be a member of the Sam Rainsy Party and presented his membership card.
Eng Chhay Eang vehemently denied Men Vattana�s accusation. �This is a falseaccusation. It is only intended to ruin the Sam Rainsy Party and to have meand Sam Rainsy arrested. This accusation has only been said for politicalpurposes,� Eng Chhay Eang told RFA.
Chea Vichea founded the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom ofCambodia in 1996 with opposition party leader Sam Rainsy�whom Chea Vicheasupported politically. A Soviet-trained agricultural engineer, Chea Vichealed the union through multiple labor protests that often clashed withpolice.
Chea Vichea�s death drew worldwide condemnation. Cambodian PrimeMinister Hun Sen has pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice.#####