The Appeal Court of Cambodia has delivered several historic verdicts for children’s rights and protection in the cases against former Sovann Komar Executive Director Mr. SOTHEA Arun and his accomplices. Mr. SOTHEA Arun has been convicted of the rape of two children and fraud and his appeal on these cases have been denied. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court affirmed the guilty verdict against Mr, SOTHEA Arun in a separate case relating to intentional violence with aggravating circumstances, food deprivation and the negligence of care of minors under the age of 15.

Mr. SOTHEA Arun has been sentenced to 22 years in prison in total.

Written judgments for these cases were issued in June, October and November, 2024.

Appeal Court Decisions

The Appeal Court upheld the sentencing of Mr. SOTHEA Arun for eight years for each of two cases (16 years in total) for committing the rape of children at Sovann Komar and the sentencing of two years for Mr. SOTHEA for carrying out an enormous fraud, over US$1.4 million, at Sovann Komar. In addition, his accomplices, Ms. THAY Sinuon and Mr. HUN Chenda, also lost their appeal in connection with a horrific case of child abuse at Sovann Komar.

“We praise the decisions of the Appeal Court for upholding the decision of the Phnom Penh Trial Court. Mr. SOTHEA Arun needs to be brought to justice and arrested for his shocking crimes against children. We hope the police will take immediate action to execute the long outstanding arrest warrant against Mr. SOTHEA Arun. Cambodia must take care of its children. After more than five years of extensive work by the team of lawyers, investigators and the staff of Sovann Komar, we are grateful to see the rule of law followed in the case of Mr. SOTHEA Arun and his accomplices. At a time when the courts are under increasing scrutiny, we are pleased the Appeal Court has followed the rule of law. However, we are appalled at the behavior and incompetency of the police for their inability to arrest the convicted criminals. We have asked the Minister of Interior to take action and unfortunately many months have passed with no justice for the children of Sovann Komar. The police’s only response was that the defendant, Mr. SOTHEA Arun has fled to Thailand but was unable to give any date of his departure” said Bradley J. Gordon, the legal representative for Sovann Komar.

Sovann Komar is a non-profit orphanage in Phnom Penh, founded in 2003 by Elizabeth Ross Johnson, to provide a safe and nurturing home for children in need. Over the years, it has cared for approximately 55 children.

At this time, Mr. SOTHEA Arun continues to remain free despite the convictions and arrest warrants issued by the court.

*អត្ថបទពាណិជ្ជកម្ម