The sentence of 31 years in prison – along with an order to pay $2.5 million in compensation – handed down to disgraced former Oknha Srey Sina is unprecedented in the history of criminal justice in Cambodia, announced Minister of Justice Koeut Rith, on December 25.

His statement followed the December 23 conviction of the double murderer by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

He received the maximum prison term available under the law in three separate criminal cases for the June 17 crime, which shocked the nation.

Additionally, the court ordered that he pay $1 million to the families of each of the two victims who were killed, as well as $300,000 to a victim who received serious injuries and $200,000 to one who was slightly injured.

On the day in question, Sina went to the home of victim Long Lysong, 27, to address a dispute between his tenant San Sreypich and the victim. The dispute involved the trimming of a mango tree, some damaged flower pots and a clothesline that extended onto Lysong’s land.

He entered the victim’s home, where a verbal disagreement took place. Sina produced a handgun and shot Lysong dead at the scene. Lysong’s fiancee Khin Kanhchana, 26, was shot three times and died en route to hospital. Two other men who were working at the house were also wounded as they attempted to hide under a table from a hail of bullets. One was hit in the arm and one in the leg.

The case drew widespread public outcry, with many social media users fearing that the wealthy 51-year-old businessman may escape a serious sentence due to a perceived culture of “impunity”.

“Justice, which everyone has been waiting for, has arrived,” declared the justice minister.

“For me, this can be considered a historic moment in the field of justice, where the court not only imposed the maximum sentence as prescribed by law but also decided on compensation for the families of victims who lost their lives, amounting to $1 million per family,” he wrote. 

Rith pointed out that the court applied at least two important principles in making its decision. 

The first is the “rule of law” principle, where the court must uphold the integrity of the law. This integrity must be respected, based on what the law clearly defines, to provide justice to the victims. 

The second is the principle of equality of punishment in determining the punishment and the unprecedented $1 million compensation, the highest amount ever awarded in a murder case in the Kingdom.

He acknowledged that the $1 million compensation cannot equate to the irreplaceable value of the lives of the two young victims who were brutally killed in this horrific murder, but it is what “justice in the modern era” can provide.

“Based on the principle of equality of punishment, the compensation ordered is most appropriate for the wealthy tycoon, who recklessly took the lives of others and committed such a brutal crime,” he said. 

The minister also informed the public that as justice minister, he received directives from Prime Minister Hun Manet on this matter from the outset, and would continue to monitor the enforcement of the law.

This includes not only the higher courts, in the event of an appeal against this ruling, but also following the enforcement of the defendant's prison sentence. This will include placing the killer on the “blacklist” meaning he will not be eligible for sentence reductions or a future pardon.

Rith also assured the public that he will monitor the compensation process.