Young couple’s murder puts Cambodia’s get-out-of-jail-free ‘Oknha’ title in spotlight

Social media has been awash for the past week with comments asserting that the suspect is likely to get off because he is rich, a common view about the Southeast Asian country’s justice system. The court ruled on Saturday.

The suspect, 50-year-old Srey Sina, allegedly shot to death 27-year-old Long Lysong and his 25-year-old fiancée Khim Kanhchana on June 17 while intervening in a dispute between neighbours. Two other victims in their early 20s sustained minor injuries.

Srey Sina was also charged with attempted murder and illegal possession of a firearm by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, according to a statement issued Sunday by the Justice Ministry. It said the charges will be prosecuted in two separate proceedings, each allowing a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Cambodia does not have the death penalty. Prosecutors said additional charges could be lodged after further investigation.

The court ordered the suspect detained at Prey Sar prison. He has not been made available for comment and court officials could not be reached on Sunday to learn if he has a lawyer.

The case attracted massive attention not only because of the seemingly unprovoked killing of a young, soon-to-be married couple and the petty dispute that sparked it, but also because the suspect held the title of Oknha, an honorific bestowed on businesspeople who donate large sums of money to the government.

The Oknha title is generally associated with influential tycoons who are considered cronies of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which has held power for almost four decades. But there are about 1,300 title holders, most of whom, like the suspect, are not public figures.