Former Bavet town Governor Chhouk Bandith, who was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment two days ago for shooting three garment workers, remained free as of yesterday evening despite outcry from observers that a verdict without enforcement was a hollow measure.
Svay Rieng provincial police chief Hem Saban said yesterday that he was taking action to implement the provincial court’s verdict, but that even after dividing his forces to search for the disgraced governor, Bandith’s whereabouts were still unknown.
“What is important now is that we do not know where he is because he has many houses. But our forces are looking for him,” he said.
Bandith was convicted on Tuesday on charges of unintentional violence after he shot and injured three workers who were protesting for better working conditions in February 2012. His case had been delayed for more than a year, and the charges against him were dropped once before, much to the consternation of rights groups.
Continue reading:Bandith eludes authorities
Source: (The Phnom Penh Post – June 27, 2013)
