In preparing for the inauguration of IBJ’s Regional Center in Pursat, our team in Cambodia hosted a criminal justice roundtable event. On April 20th, a total of seventy two participants gathered at the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Hall to discuss practices and issues related to criminal law, making it the largest roundtable our team has held since the country program began. Among the attendants were district governors and court, prison and police officials.

The robust roundtable was presided by the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, the Deputy Governor of Kampong Chhnang Province, the Chief at Court of first instance, the Prosecutor at the Court of first instance, and Ouk Vandeth, IBJ’s Country Manager.

This gathering of criminal justice stakeholders was an opportunity to raise some important legal issues. Leading authority figures discussed the difficulties of implementing the new criminal procedure code, the role of justice police, and the importance of direct legal assistance to clients during the investigation process.

As one of the country’s most experienced criminal defense lawyers, IBJ’s Senior Fellow Ouk Vandeth was given the opportunity to advise coworkers on various matters of contention related criminal law practice, and to learn about the issues which concern his coworkers.

The event concluded with words from the Deputy Governor of Kampong Chhnang, who reasserted his enthusiasm for the opening of our second DRC which will enable IBJ’s Cambodia staff to increase their caseload to assist clients from the provinces of Pursat and Kampong Chhnang.