Phnom Penh – The Court of Appeals has delivered a historic verdict for children’s rights and protection in the cases against former Sovann Komar Executive Director, Mr. SOTHEA Arun, and his accomplices Mr. HUN Chenda, Ms. THAY Sinoun, and Ms. ENG Veasna Nimol. Mr. SOTHEA Arun has been convicted of the rape of two children, fraud, intentional violence with aggravating circumstances related to the victims,  food deprivation, and negligence of the care of minors under the age of 15. Mr. SOTHEA Arun was sentenced to 22 years in prison in total.

The decision of the Appeal Court for the case of child abuse was announced in court on 31st August 2023, upholding the convictions of the lower court. The Appeals Court also announced on 11th September that they would uphold the convictions on a related case involving the rape of a minor by Mr. SOTHEA Arun. Written judgements are expected to be released by the court within weeks.

Abuse and Rape Cases

The Court of Appeals upheld the sentencing of Mr. SOTHEA Arun for four years for committing horrendous child abuse at Sovann Komar. Mr. HUN Chenda and Ms. THAY Sinoun, two foster parents at Sovann Komar, were sentenced to three years each, and Ms. UNG Veasna Nimol, another foster parent, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. The convictions for Mr. SOTHEA Arun, Mr. HUN Chenda, Ms. THAY Sinoun and Ms. UNG Veasna Nimol are for intentional violence with aggravating circumstances related to the victims.  Mr. SOTHEA Arun was also convicted of food deprivation and negligence of care of minors under the age of 15. The court ordered Mr. SOTHEA Arun, Mr. HUN Chenda, Ms. THAY Sinoun, and Ms. UNG Veasna Nimol to jointly pay for damages in the amount of 200,000,000 KHR (Two hundred million) riels. 

In the lower courts, Mr. SOTHEA Arun was convicted of the rape of two young girls from Sovann Komar. He was sentenced to 8 years for each rape case. The Appeals Court has confirmed the conviction for one of the rape cases, Mr. SOTHEA Arun must pay damages of 60,000,000 KHR (sixty million) riels to the victim whom was raped repeatedly starting from the age of 6 years old.   The second case has yet to be heard by the Court of Appeals. 

"The Court of Appeals deserves praise for upholding the decisions of the Phnom Penh Trial Court. Mr. SOTHEA Arun and his accomplices need to be brought to justice and arrested for their shocking crimes against children. We urge the police to take immediate action and execute the long outstanding arrest warrant against Mr. SOTHEA Arun, Mr. HUN Chenda, Ms. THAY Sinoun, and Ms. UNG Veasna Nimol. Cambodia has to take care of its children. After four years of extensive work by the team of lawyers, investigators and staff of Sovann Komar, we are grateful to see the rule of law followed in the case of Mr. SOTHEA Arun and his accomplices. This tragic case is a landmark decision for improving protection for children," said Bradley J. Gordon, the legal representative of Sovann Komar. 

Sovann Komar is a non-profit residential care institution 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. 

Mr. SOTHEA Arun and his accomplices have somehow evaded Cambodian police for nearly two years despite convictions and active arrest warrants.