By Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
SAM Rainsy Party lawmaker Mu Sochua maintained Thursday that she will not pay 16.5 million riels (US$3,937) in penalties imposed on her after she was found guilty of defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen, even if her defiance risks landing her in jail.Speaking ahead of today's deadline to hand over the cash, Mu Sochua said that it is she - not the prime minister - who is the victim following a round of lawsuits that has drawn sharp criticism from the international community, which has accused the government of using the courts to silence political dissent.
"My stance is the same. I will not pay. If I pay the fine, it means I agree to recognise my mistake. Even if I was imprisoned, I would not pay," Mu Sochua told the Post from New York, where she is receiving medical attention.
Mu Sochua was convicted August 4 of defaming Hun Sen and ordered by Phnom Penh Municipal Court to pay 8.5 million riels in fines and 8 million riels in compensation to the prime minister, who said that her defamation accusations against him damaged his reputation.
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