Deposed Cambodian royalist leader faces lawsuits

The deposed leader of Cambodia's royalist party has been charged with breach of trust in an embezzlement lawsuit filed against him by his former party colleagues, officials said Tuesday.

The lawsuit is the latest setback for Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who was removed as president of the Funcinpec party two months ago. He also faces an adultery lawsuit filed by his estranged wife, Norodom Marie Ranariddh.

Ranariddh faces a five-year prison term if convicted in the embezzlement case, said Ngeth Sarath, a prosecutor at the Phnom Penh Municipal court.

The lawsuit was filed by Nhek Bun Chhay, the Funcinpec party's secretary-general, who led the move to oust Ranariddh as party president on Oct. 18. Funcinpec cited Ranariddh's alleged incompetence and frequent absences from the country as reasons for his removal.

The party accused Ranariddh of embezzling some US$3.6 million (€2.75 million) from the sale of the party's headquarters in August. It demanded US$1 million (€763,650) in damages from Ranariddh on top of repayment of the funds.

Ranariddh has dismissed the allegations and said he was considering filing a countersuit against Nhek Bun Chhay for defaming him.

He has said the decision to sell the party's headquarters was made by the party's board of directors.

Ranariddh's longtime political rival, Prime Minister Hun Sen, had encouraged the ouster of Ranariddh. Funcinpec is the junior partner in Hun Sen's coalition government.

Last week, the lower house in parliament ejected Ranariddh after he founded his own party, the Norodom Ranariddh Party.

Sok Kalyan, another municipal court prosecutor, said he is investigating the adultery lawsuit lodged against Ranariddh two weeks ago.

The prosecutor said Norodom Marie Ranariddh accused Ranariddh of adultery for having an affair with Ouk Phalla, a former Cambodian classical dancer with whom the prince now has a son. The lawsuit was filed under monogamy legislation adopted by lawmakers in September.

The law makes extramarital affairs a criminal offense, punishable by up to a year in prison. Unfaithful spouses could also face fines of up to 1 million riel (US$245; €190).