Phnom Penh (FN), June 10 - Spokesman of Ministry of Justice Kim Santepheap said Sunday that Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana requested the Phnom Penh Municiple Court (PPMC) to take legal action against Sam Rainsy's accusation the Royal Message a forgery, which is widely seen as an insult.

"In order to protect the King's dignity in accordance with the Constitution and Cambodian Law, the Minister of Justice has ordered the PPMC to take legal action against Sam Rainsy's insult," he said.

The order came after Sam Rainsy, former opposition party leader, wrote on Facebook on June 6, 2018, “King's letter urging people to go to vote: a forgery or a piece made under duress thus legally worthless".

Royal Palace Senior Official in charge of general affairs Kuy Sophal immediately confirmed on June 6 that the Royal Message: “Urging People to Go to Vote” is genuine.

Constitutional law and Article 437 of the penal code clearly state that the King shall not be insulted. Accusing the royal message as a forgery and calling for people not to care about the message seriously affected the King's dignity, and could face one to five years of imprisonment and a fine from $500 to $2500.

Yesterday, two political parties leaders, the Cambodian Youths Party and the Cambodian Nationality Party, participating in the upcoming National Assembly elections, reacted strongly to Rainsy's insult to the royal messenge and demanded the court to take legal action.

His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, called on all citizens to exercise their free rights by voting in the National Assembly 6th mandate election on July 29, 2018, according to the royal letter dated on May 18, 2018.
=FRESH NEWS