Dr. Ung Chanthol, the new executive director of the Women’s Information Center of Cambodia, said that she was disappointed and surprised by the unexpected release of Sam Bunyani, who embezzled more than $ 200,000 from the organization

Ms Sam, who was on the run for an extended period of time after embezzling the funds, was arrested by the Phnom Penh Municipal Police on August 24, 2023, according to the Supreme Court’s final ruling dated 11 November 2021 and an arrest warrant dated 9 December 2022.

However, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court decided to release the prisoner on August 25, one day after her arrest.

The Spokesperson of the Phnom Penh Municipal Prosecutor’s Office stated that the representative of the Phnom Penh Municipal Prosecutor’s Office has taken charge of the case of coercion with lawyer Toch Sokha, ID number 1303, representing the Cambodian Women’s Media Centerto implement Criminal Judgment No. 380 dated 11 November 2021 of the Supreme Court on Sam Bunyani, female, born in 1957

After examining the above case, the representative of the Phnom Penh Municipal Prosecutor’s Office issued an arrest warrant for Sam Bunyani, a female, in order to force the body to seek compensation from the Civil Party as set out in the Supreme Court Judgment at the request of the plaintiff.

On August 24, 2023, at 07:30, the police force of the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Interior complied with the arrest warrant of Sam Bunyani, female, in Sangkat Dangkor, Khan Dangkor, Phnom Penh to be sent to the prosecutor.

After questioning the prisoners and after careful review, the representative of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found that:

1. The decision of the sentence by the court at all levels in this case is the decision of the sentence of imprisonment by suspension according to Article 107 of the Penal Code.

Therefore, inmates will not have to serve their sentences in prison, except in violation of the conditions set out in the Penal Code for the revocation of suspensions.

According to Article 531 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the female convict is 66 (sixty-six) years old at the time of her arrest.

Based on the above, the representative of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court decided to release the female prisoner Sam Bunyani.

The Women’s Media Center of Cambodia reports that the release of Ms Sam has deeply disappointed the staff of the Women’s Media Center of Cambodi as, when she managed the finances of the Women’s Media Center of Cambodia from 2009 to 2013, she stole more than $ 200,000, but was able to remain out of jail.

During the hearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Ms. Sam Bunyani was sentenced to one year in prison for breach of trust, but her sentence was suspended without even detention for one day and she had to pay back the stolen money.

Unable to accept the verdict, the Women’s Media Center of Cambodia (WMC) appealed the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision, and the charges at the Court of Appeal were changed to a breach of special trust.

The Court of Appeal eventually sentenced Sam Bunyani to two years in prison and to pay more than $ 200,000 stolen from the Women’s Information Center of Cambodia without parole and to pay $ 10,000 in legal fees.

Ms. Bunyany’s lawyer disagreed with his client’s two-year sentence without parole and appealed to the Supreme Court to oppose the sentence.

However, the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal on September 21, 2020.

After being convicted, Sam Bunyani escaped for many years.

Deputy Prosecutor Soeur Lundy issued an arrest warrant on December 9, 2022, and Phnom Penh Municipal Police arrested Sam Bunyani at 111, Street 1, Borey Piphop Thmey, Chamkar Dong 1 on Thursday, the 24th. August 2023.

This news made all the staff of the Women’s Information Center of Cambodia very happy, feeling that they will receive the light of justice.

However, on Friday, August 25, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court decided to release Sam Bunyany a day after her arrest, while Sam Bunyani claimed that she had no worries about repaying the stolen money.

The executive director of the Women’s Media Center of Cambodia has called on the leadership to provide justice in this case.

• Tags: embezzling