Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – In response to the shocking gang rape and murder case that occurred on a school campus in May of this year, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court delivered its first-instance formal verdict on the afternoon of the 25th of this month. Three teenage defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment for crimes of violence, murder, and sexual assault, and were also ordered to pay civil compensation to the victim's family.
During the trial, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge clearly determined that the facts of the crimes committed by the three defendants were clear and the evidence was sufficient, constituting the relevant charges. Based on the corresponding provisions of the local Criminal Code, the court made the final sentencing: 18-year-old suspect Sok Chan Sok Van Heng was sentenced to life imprisonment; 15-year-old Depalan and 16-year-old Pao Odo were both sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
In addition to the criminal penalties, the court also ordered the three defendants to jointly pay US$3,000 in civil compensation to the victim's family to compensate for the emotional trauma and economic losses suffered by the family.
Court documents show that the tragedy occurred on May 21st of this year at a primary school located beside National Road 5 in Phnom Penh's Senado District. On that day, the three defendants, after premeditation, laced a 15-year-old female student's drink with a large dose of sleeping pills. After the victim lost consciousness, the defendants took her to the school toilet, gang-raped her, and then brutally murdered her. Afterward, the defendants stole the victim's necklace and personal belongings before fleeing the scene.
Since its occurrence, the case has sparked strong outrage and widespread attention in Cambodian society due to its extremely heinous nature and cruelty. This first-instance verdict demonstrates the judiciary's determination to severely crack down on heinous violent crimes and uphold school safety and social fairness and justice.
