Demonstrators Demand Release of CNRP Official Held in ‘Fake’ Accident

More than 50 protestors seeking the release of a local opposition party official who is facing a criminal charge in what many people think was a ‘fake” auto accident blocked National Road 5 near the Poipet International Border Checkpoint on Thursday.

The demonstrators carried banners and signs calling for justice for Mang Puthy, the CNRP’s deputy head of operations in Poipet City, who was arrested on assault charges in connection with the Dec. 22 incident.

Some of the protesters were crying and shouting, saying the charge is a ‘grave injustice’ and claiming Mang Puthy did not hit immigration police officer Chhean Pisith with his SUV on Dec. 22.

Mang Puthy was charged with intentional violence with aggravating circumstances on Dec. 24 and sent to Banteay Meanchey provincial jail.

While the demonstrators were mostly friends and supporters of Mang Puthy, the protest grew larger when authorities started to break it up. Two protest leaders were arrested, but later released when the demonstrators agreed to stop.

Civil society organization officials observing the protest said it was held without authorization from authorities since most protesters did not understand the legal procedures and they were in a rush as Mang Puthy has been held for several days.

While Chhean Pisith was taken away in an ambulance wearing a neck brace, video footage of the incident raises questions about whether the policeman was actually hit by Mang Puthy’s SUV. Many observers of the video say he was acting.

Witnesses told reporters the vehicle never touched Chhean Pisith, calling his account of the incident into question.

“The car stopped, and the police stood in front of the car pretending to collapse on his own or to be unconscious,” a witness told RFA’s Khmer Service. “I see unfairness in this incident as the car did not hit [the victim]."

The exact whereabouts of the police officer is unclear. According to sources, he is either getting medical treatments at a military hospital in the Aranyaprathet district of neighboring Thailand’s Sras Keo province, or he has already

Demonstrators Demand Release of CNRP Official Held in ?Fake? Accident

So has the video been released to social media? The court of public opinion needs to see the evidence.

the ABC report - video in link

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Footage on social media shows the policeman falling to the ground when the car was barely moving. - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A member of Cambodia's Opposition party has been arrested for allegedly driving his car into a police officer, but footage of the incident has raised concerns the collision may have been faked.
On Christmas Eve, MP Mang Puthy went to try to resolve a dispute between a motorcyclist and police as part of his work as a union leader supporting motorcycle taxi drivers.
Police allege he ran over an immigration police officer, despite being signalled to stop.
But footage of the incident appears to show the policeman suddenly falling to the ground when the car was barely moving, prompting accusations he faked the incident.
In the video, Mr Puthy's car can be seen inching forward when the officer, Chhean Pisith, appears to step into its path and then dramatically fall to the ground.
Mr Pisith was taken from the scene on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace.
Video of the incident has been widely shared on social media and has spawned a number of parodies.
But the police are sticking with the story, rejecting claims the accident was faked to punish Mr Puthy for his union activities.
Mr Puthy remains in pre-trial detention, charged with intentional violence with aggravating circumstances.
The ruling party has absolute control over Cambodia's security forces and is thought to be worried about the growing popularity of the Opposition in the lead up to elections in 2018.

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Cambodian police officer accused of faking being hit by politician's car - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

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Originally Posted by Maanaam

So has the video been released to social media? The court of public opinion needs to see the evidence.

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Local opinions or foreign perspectives....??

Cambodian Labor Leader Released in ‘Fake Accident’ Case

A labor organizer and local opposition party official accused of hitting a border police officer with his car last month was released on bond Friday after a closed hearing before Cambodia’s appellate court.

Din Puthy, president of the Cambodia Informal Economy Reinforced Association (CIERA) and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) deputy head of operations in Poipet City, was charged with aggravated intentional violence in the Dec. 22 incident. He had been held in the provincial jail since Dec. 24.

While border officer Chhean Pisith was taken away in an ambulance wearing a neck brace, video footage of the incident raises questions about whether the policeman was actually hit by Din Puthy’s SUV.

Witnesses told reporters the vehicle never touched Chhean Pisith, calling his account the incident into question.

Defense attorney Kim Socheat told RFA’s Khmer Service that bail came with restrictions to Din Puthy’s movements.

“He cannot change addresses without the court’s approval, and he has to respond to all summons by investigating judge,” he said. “The ruling is for his immediate release, so he must be freed today as well.”

Kim Socheat told RFA that the officer was not severely injured and had decided against filing a civil suit.

“We know the civil plaintiff has already said that he was not seriously injured, and that he would not file any compensation lawsuit,” he said.

Ath Thun, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers, called the case an unfair one.

“For me as well as the general public, we think this case is really unfair,” he said. “This means that a number of his rights have been withheld.”

Still, Ath Thun and Din Puthy’s wife, Hum Chrien, told RFA they were happy he may have regained some measure of freedom.

“After hearing the appellate court decided to free my husband, I was very delighted so I skipped my meals to wait for his release from prison,” she said.

While Judge Nguon Ratana ordered Din Puthy’s release, he was still being held late Friday, his wife said.

“I waited there from this morning until this evening at 6 p.m., but still my husband has not yet been released,” she said.

“This morning, more than 40 people went to the prison to wait for his release; these people are our relatives, some members [of my husband’s association] and residents here. Tomorrow we will visit the prison again to wait for his release.”

Cambodian Labor Leader Released in ?Fake Accident? Case