Bodyguards who beat Cambodian MPs released from jail

By Lauren Crothers

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AA) - Three bodyguards who beat two opposition lawmakers bloody last year have been released after serving a year each in prison in Cambodia.

The attack happened Oct. 26, 2015 when Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) lawmakers Nhay Chamroeun and Kong Saphea were dragged from their cars and beaten by a mob who had been protesting against the party’s deputy leader, Kem Sokha.

The Cambodia Daily said Monday that the three, members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit, were released from prison on Friday after serving a year of their sentences after being convicted of “intentional violence with aggravating circumstances” and damaging property.

The three had been sentenced to four years behind bars, but three years were suspended and the judge also took into account time served at the time of sentencing.

The case has drawn heavy criticism from the opposition party and rights groups, which said the scale of the attack was far larger, better coordinated and involved several dozen people who were never taken in for questioning.

An Interior Ministry commission was established in the wake of the attacks, but no further arrests were ever made and calls to the ministry went unanswered Monday.

Political analyst Ou Virak told Anadolu Agency on Monday that the “magnitude of the crime; the beating and level of assault was significant”.

“I don’t usually promote heavy sentences, but it looks to me like impunity,” he added. “It’s very difficult to have confidence in the investigation, because there were many people involved [in the attack].”

Calls to CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann were unsuccessful Monday.