Justice Ministry Orders Probe into Wrongful Detention Allegations at Stung Treng Court

The Ministry of Justice, under Minister of Justice and Deputy Prime Minister Keth Rith, has ordered a working group to investigate allegations that the Stung Treng Provincial Court wrongfully detained a Khmer-Islam man for nearly a year before his release. The Minister has also forwarded the case to the Supreme Council of Magistracy for action. Ministry of Justice spokesman Eam Chandrakor stated that the findings of the investigation into the Stung Treng Provincial Court case will be submitted to the Supreme Council of Magistracy to serve as additional material for oversight. If the judge handling the case is found to have committed an error, legal action and disciplinary proceedings will be carried out under the framework of the Supreme Council of Magistracy's disciplinary mechanisms. The Ministry of Justice's action comes after widespread criticism on social media regarding the alleged wrongful detention by the Stung Treng Provincial Court, which reportedly held an individual in prison for almost a year before releasing them. The alleged victim, identified as Sles Fert, has filed complaints with both the Supreme Council of Magistracy and the Ministry of Justice. Previously, the Stung Treng Provincial Court issued a press release denying the allegations, asserting that it operates according to proper procedures and that no wrongful detentions occurred. The court stated that the release of the accused was due to a lack of incriminating evidence.