Heng Pov deported to Cambodia

Former Phnom Penh municipal police Heng Pov was deported to Cambodia on Thursday by a special flight from Malaysia after the Malaysian Appeals court overturned that ruling on the grounds that only the immigration department can decide where a foreigner should be deported. Immediately, Heng Pov was taken to Phnom Penh municipal court and sent to a prison to serve his sentence for murder on the same day.

Heng Pov- former municipal police chief, an advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, and later an undersecretary of state for ministry of interior – was sentenced in absentia to 18 years in jail for ordering the 2003 murder of municipal court judge Sok Sethamony.

He left Cambodia for Singapore before Cambodian authorities announced arrest warrant on July 31 for his role in the killing, as well as three other attempted murders. On Sept 1, Singapore deported him to Malaysia and later he was arrested by Malaysian immigration police for overstaying his entry pass.

After Heng Pov’s attorney made an effort to seek political asylum for his client, early this month Finland granted entry visa to Heng Pov to travel to there in order to avoiding the fear that he would face violation of his rights if deported to Cambodia. Later foreign Minister Hor Namhong reacted strongly for granting visa to Heng Pov.

Heng Pov appealed to the Malaysian immigration authorities not to send him to Cambodia. He said that if he is sent back to Cambodia, He will be killed and tortured. Now, what he spoke out to the world, no country give shelter to him, except Finland. But his safe shelter is staying in Prey Sar prison. In the future, what will happen to him, he is waiting for other 3 lawsuits. So his life in prison will not be only 18 years.