Cambodia's Ministry of Justice Rejects Opposition's Allegations of Unfair Justice System

The Ministry of Justice has categorically rejected allegations from some opposition activists claiming that the Minister of Justice has failed to deliver justice for victims. Em Chanmora, Secretary of State and spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, stated that such accusations are baseless, politically motivated, and serve to incite the significant efforts being made by the Ministry of Justice, as well as the prosecution and judicial institutions, in actively working to protect the legal rights, freedoms, and interests of affected citizens. He further noted that these campaigns aim to accelerate case resolution and address irregularities within the courts. He clarified that according to the Law on the Organization of the Courts and the Law on the Status of Judges and Prosecutors, the Minister of Justice does not have the authority to adjudicate cases or interfere in any judicial proceedings. The Minister's role is to lead and manage the Ministry of Justice to ensure the justice system operates smoothly, fairly, and transparently. Therefore, he asserted that blaming Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, Kert Rith, for deciding cases on behalf of the court or for failing to secure justice for victims is a manifestation of prejudice, ignorance, and malicious intent to mislead the public. In line with deep judicial reforms, the ministry highlighted that numerous cases have been resolved, providing justice to tens of thousands of victims. Two campaigns have been launched to accelerate case resolution and address irregularities within the courts, aiming to expedite and ensure the accuracy and transparency of judgments for citizens. The ministry also promotes out-of-court dispute resolution mechanisms, which facilitate peaceful and fair settlements for parties involved. High attention is given to citizens' complaints, which are forwarded to the campaign command for review and legal action by competent authorities. The principles of "resolute and lawful" and "integrity" are strictly applied to law enforcement officials to ensure efficiency and transparency in legal enforcement with accountability towards the public, safeguarding national security and public safety, as well as the peace of citizens. Specifically, in the first six months of 2026, 320 cases (41.08%) were submitted for accelerated resolution, all of which have been concluded 100%. Complaints requesting investigation into irregularities numbered 459 cases (58.92%). Additionally, 220 cases from 2025 remained unresolved, while 8 complaints were withdrawn by the complainants. Thus, a total of 671 cases were to be processed. Among the total complaints received, the campaign committee for investigating and resolving irregularities in courts has processed 343 cases (51.12%). Of the processed complaints, 323 cases (94.17%) were found to have "no irregularities." Within these, courts made decisions with proper and clear reasoning in 134 cases (39.07%). Cases pending court action where complainants merely feared irregularities numbered 183 cases (53.35%), and 6 cases (1.75%) were sent for mediation. Suspected irregularities were found in 20 cases (5.83%), leading to inspections in 16 cases (4.66%), requests for retrial in 3 cases (0.87%), and transfer of jurisdiction in 1 case (0.29%). Of the 16 inspected cases, 14 involved 26 judges and 7 prosecutors who have been referred to the Disciplinary Council of the Supreme Council of the Magistracy for further investigation and legal action. Within the framework of the campaign, the secretariat of the campaign command has facilitated the provision of 35 volunteer lawyers, who serve as advisors to the Ministry of Justice, to provide free legal defense to citizens who have applied to the campaign. The Ministry of Justice closely cooperates with the Royal Government's legal team and the Bar Association to provide free legal services and representation to the poor and victims lacking resources. Furthermore, the establishment of an "National Authority for Out-of-Court Dispute Resolution" has been created as a strategic step to help citizens (especially low-income individuals) obtain swift, efficient, and cost-effective justice. The Ministry of Justice is continuously updating and reforming laws, reviewing and amending legal documents that have loopholes to ensure provisions are appropriate and leave no room for leniency towards serious offenses. As the spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, I call upon the public not to believe incitement or the use of the justice system for political gain, but to seek truthful information for society. If the accusers possess clear evidence of injustice or legal violations, they should present such evidence to the Ministry of Justice's two campaign commands for legal action, rather than making ignorant, baseless accusations on social media with malicious intent. Source: CEN Cambodia