The Appeal Court yesterday decided to uphold the Kampong Cham Provincial Court’s verdict in sentencing a man to 10 years in prison for causing the death of a policeman after he ran over the victim with his motorcycle.

The incident happened when the policeman tried to intervene in a dispute in Kampong Siem district in Kampong Cham in 2015.

Judge Yun Narong announced the verdict in the absence of the convict Yong Yieb, 26, following the August 21 hearing.

After hearing the argument presented by the defendant’s lawyer and the presiding counsel, “the Appeal Court decided to uphold the Kampong Cham Provincial Court’s verdict.

“But if the convict is unhappy with this decision, he can file a case at the Supreme Court within a month starting from today,” Judge Narong said.

During the trial, Yieb told the judge that he was heading to a pub on his motorcycle along with two of his friends on the evening of December 26, 2015.

Once they arrived at Kampong Siem District Hall, he overtook another motorbike and that angered the rider and his friends.

The group then started to curse and chase him with a belt, he said.

While trying to escape, his motorcycle skidded and a policeman came to help.

“Once I lifted my motorcycle to escape, they still chased me but I managed to escape. But [their] motorcycle hit the policeman and I gave first aid to the injured victim. Therefore, I did not hit the victim and the court should free me,” said Yieb.

Chan Thorn, the deceased policeman’s wife, said her husband died while they were trying to admit him at the Kampong Cham provincial referral hospital.

She demanded 120 million riel as compensation from the accused.

According to Kampong Siem district police records, based on a witness account, the policeman died after he was hit by a red motorcycle and Yieb’s vehicle was also red in colour.

Prosecutor Pen Sarat concluded the case based on the witness’ evidence and that the red motorcycle ridden by the accused had caused the policeman’s death.

Therefore, he said, Kampong Cham Provincial Court’s verdict should be upheld.

However, Nou Chantha, the accused’s lawyer, said according to his client, the motorcycle that hit the policeman belonged to the group that chased him.

“Based on police records, during the incident, they caught the perpetrator but the perpetrator managed to escape. Therefore, there are many doubts in this case and I ask the court to free my client,” Chanta said.