Cambodia Cambodian lawyer faces persecution and disciplinary action
Cambodian lawyer Kong Sam Onn may face criminal prosecution. He is also threatened with disciplinary measures by the Cambodian Association of Lawyers. The accusations at his address relate to a politically sensitive case in which his client, member of parliament Mu Sochua, is prosecuted, allegedly for criticizing the government’s expropriation procedures.
In April 2009, Mu Sochua and Kong Sam Onn announced that they were going to issue a complaint against prime minister HunSen, after he had made offensive remarks about Sochua in a public speech. In reaction to Sochua’s intention to file a complaint, she and Kong Sam Onn were accused of slander. Furthermore, Kong Sam Onn was accused by the Lawyer’s Association of violating the code of conduct for lawyers, which might lead to his suspension. L4L organized a letter writing campaign in June 2009 (here you can find the letters that were sent by L4L volunteers at the time).