Concern over judges' dismissal in Cambodia

Human rights groups and legal observers in Cambodia have expressed concern over a decision by the Justice Minister, Chem Snguon, to suspend three Appeal Court judges.

Last week they had overturned the controversial conviction of a senior security official on drugs charges.

The Court had ruled that there was no evidence to connect a high-ranking official in the military police, who is a member of the royalist FUNCINPEC party, with an illegal shipment of marijuana.

He was freed from a fifteen-year prison sentence, a decison which was welcomed at the time as proof of the fairness of the Cambodian justice system.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service