Cambodian court sentences 18 people to prison on terrorism charge

Monday, March 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(PHNOM PENH, Cambodia) - A court sentenced 18 people, including an American of Cambodian descent, to jail Monday for an attack on government buildings by an obscure anti-communist group more than a year ago.

Vutha Mat, 34, from Boston, Mass., was sentenced to 18 years in prison for belonging to an armed group and engaging in terrorism, said his lawyer, Chim Dara. His lawyer said he planned to appeal.

The sentences handed down by Judge Chhay Kong ranged from seven to 18 years. The trial was held in Battambang province, 155 miles from Phnom Penh in northwestern Cambodia.

The convictions raised to 96 the number of people sent to jail for their alleged involvement with the U.S.-based anti-communist Cambodian Freedom Fighters since authorities began a crackdown 16 months ago.

The group claimed responsibility for attacks on three government buildings on Nov. 24, 2000 that left six rebels and one civilian dead. The attacks were easily repulsed by security forces.

Prime Minister Hun Sen portrayed the incident as a coup attempt but many political observers expressed skepticism about the claim.

Vutha Mat's lawyer said his client arrived in Cambodia in September to work on a video production with a local company. He was arrested during a visit to his relatives in Battambang province.

Authorities claim that documents confiscated shortly after the bungled attack named Vutha Mat as the anti-government group's minister of information. He denied any involvement, his lawyer said.

``Throughout his detention and during the trial he said he did not know how his name ended up on the list,'' Chim Dara said.

Vutha Mat was the third Cambodia-American sent to jail in connection with the failed coup.

Naturalized U.S. citizen Gilbit Sao, a 38-year-old computer engineer from Long Beach, Calif., was sentenced to 10 years in jail last month. Richard Kiri Kim, 51, described by Cambodian media as one of the masterminds of the violence, is serving a life sentence.

Two others _ including Chhun Yasith, the self-confessed leader of attacks and owner of an accounting firm in Long Beach _ have been sentenced in absentia to life in prison.