Phnom Penh (FN), Sep. 26 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed Minister of Justice, Koeut Rith, to issue an order to the Attorney General to appeal to the Court of Appeal regarding the decision to sentence a Ford Ranger owner, who involved in a drunk-driving accident that resulted in four deaths and four injuries at Russey Keo flyover on the night of 20 January 2024, to five years of imprisonment.

This directive followed the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's verdict on 25 September 2024, which sentenced Neang Sam Oun, the driver of a Ford Ranger.

The premier spoke on Thursday (Sep. 26) during a graduation of 3,530 students of the Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE) in Phnom Penh.

Samdech Thipadei underscored, "I entrust the Ministry of Justice to exercise its authority within the legal framework to appeal. The Attorney General of the Court of Appeal must review whether the sentencing is sufficiently serious, given that the accident resulted in the death of four people."

With instructions for the Minister of Justice Koeut Rith, to prepare the necessary documents, Samdech Thipadei added, "This case has significant consequences and should serve as a warning to other drunk drivers."

If the current law only allows for a five-year sentence, then the Ministry of Justice must prepare amendments to ensure appropriate penalties in the future.

"If the law stipulates a certain limit, we cannot act beyond that. However, we must review whether the penalty is adequate, and if necessary, amend the law to increase the severity of punishment in the future," the premier further underscored.

On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei continued that preventing traffic accidents caused by drunk driving requires strict law enforcement. He also stressed that while the government cannot interfere with the court’s decisions, the court must operate within the legal framework. The Ministry of Justice, currently working on amendments to the Penal Code and Civil Code, must also consider revising this point.
=FRESH NEWS