Kingdom of Cambodia: Criminal Code

Kingdom of Cambodia: Criminal CodeAll rights reserved. No part ofthis hook may he reprinled or rel~rodnced stored in a retrieval ,syyFynI, or transmitted, in any form or by any clecti'onic, mechanical, or othrr mearzs, including photocop~~ing and recording, without t he express writte~l pernzission from the ourhor. Enquiries co~zcerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to cc:fiedback201 I~jgmcril.com.
G ~ ~ S O ~ % ~ S & E I S I I ~ ~ n w Acknowledgement
ch~l lu $tqui$hrinnrqnn6~finrr~~tjr ir lmfi First of all, I would like to greatly thank Mr. Senarong TAN. prosecutor of the Court of
m 6 b W m ! S ~ n ' n d m ~ M m 2 ~ r n j 1 " Ge Appeals. and Mr. Thirith HING. prosecutor of . .
~ n : ~ ~ ~ g ~ ~ ~ ~ f i ~ ~ t r m : m r g ~ ~ ~ i l m u ~ t h d u p r e m e Court, for their invaluable itiputs and discussions on the Criminal Code.
~ h m r R m f i j 6 ~ s f i i r$~fiu~nq~rprs:r
ch~l8finmhj ~ j i ~ ~ n 7 ~ ~ ~ i a ~ ~ ~ n 7 f l ~ ~ i 6 i Without doubt. the English text would ! not be in its current form without invaluable
iuurs: r f i m ~ i m r i ~ G h i ~ u h 6 ~ ~ ~ i ~ l ~ h j lmfi work and commitment by Mr. Charles ZAMA,
m ~ 1 h mwB;$'l $tqunrqnn rMfi wB;$ fihbr@: I sincerely thank Mr. ZAMA for his tremendous ? contribution. Mr. ZAMA is currently working
~~~Zrm:mr~m~uGinnfii;6t~hru~1miir UGUJS .~ revisor~at ECCC.
itquigjhrinnrqnntirir IMfi GWS S@ imfi * I would like to thank Mr. Phally SENG
and Mr. Polida KHENG who are curre~itly GSS iti~chrdfiUfii~ufTlM i b h ~ ~ m ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ working as ECCC interpreters, all my colleagues
iim6msfiig working at ECCC for spending their valuable time reviewing and editing the English
~ g ~ g ~ f i i ~ f i translation as well as valoable comments. Mr.
~ ~ ~ M H ~ I E N iMTi 68s 65% fig 65 6~5@ g h Taingpor KHENG, Ms. Chanrasmei RANY a - - and Brigadier General Borany TEN, Deputy
IMfiZ~UIklStULfi ins3 @5 HSLUmSsltUfiQlS Director. Department of Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection, 'General
~ m f i @ s L u 6 ~ m r G ? ? Q f ~ ? ~ ~ Ehmfmi~sEd~ ~ ~ ~ ~ , . t ~ ~ ~ t ~ ~ t i ~ ~ ~ l police, Ministry of
~ ~ ~ h m r @ s s ~ ~ m m f i R i ~ ~ f i ~ ~ u m i ~ 6rm:mr Interior for proofreading and other valuable
K ~ s I $ ] ~ @ ~ H Q ~ ? [ ? ~ h ~ ~ 1 ~ ~ r i r i f ~ l r j j b i 9 ] f i 7 comments.
itqwi$bfinnrqnn$t,itirtirir ems cnnss~G ., 1 am also indebted to all the international and national, judges and
kd@@ ibh gxni?m$ c h E 8 h ~ ~ f m E Id H.f.n.fi prosecutors at ECCC who have provided
iGnrmsgrirr~l~$6fiBb'dErll~lurir i f l ~ $ s " ~ ~ ~ t n comments and claritication on co~itextual niealii~ig of certain articles during the process of
~ U ~ $ S Q ~ H $ ~ I ~ ~ W ~ S ~ I U ~ ~ ~ L U L ~ ~ U I S : ~ translating this Code.
f i ~ h r ~ m w jfi~~i$bfi~lq~~~m~l~~Gh Finally, 1 would like to extend my
i profound thanks to Ms. Susan LAMB for her '@ '95' ems i t inrn@ms6nmmrnmdMsfi i~ invaluable colltribution in making editorial
r 2 ~ r r r i f i N ~ ~ ~ n f i ~ r n c i ~ & m ~ ~ $ ~ ~ ~ r UQUJ$ n g changes to the English text. Ms. LAMB is i currently working as senior legal officer with the
3 ems3 c h ~ $ ~ ~ ~ c h d ~ h j i ~ H ~ 6 ~ ~ ~ ~ : M M d ~ h ECCC ~ ~ i ~ l chamber,
L Page 1 I > >
~nsl&8s%@~&%a9SS~tg9~69fg4nc1~ Note on the Translation of the Criminal Code
~f iu ln in_srpu@~ fiAfirAmrgr&fiusr@m The Criminal Code regulates what conduct is deemed to be criminal, the conditions ~ a ~ s m n i t i m ~ $ m ~ ' ~ ~ t M s ' ~ m ? m ~ 6 t
?Ius under which a ~ e r s o n may be held LnQeryl E t l s ~ f i ~ i t ; m l Q i l r r f i ~ n ~ ~ i f i r 6 y ~ m i t ; m responsible. and the relevant penalties that apply
~~msgprmmAuarGmlnqsrylrsl:r to a person cotlvicted of a criminal offense.
~ f i ~ l n q s i y ~ ~ i n ~ i u a i ~ f i a 3 njjr njj; 9 The Criminal Code is subdivided into six books. Book One of the Criminal Code
isafiirmmmr'?r' Ea'nsiss~'~nqs~i'm the general principles and rules of
LQrlrrfiUfiHSjfi 1 8 ~ i M k m f 9 ~ m ~ ~ ~ Q l l n q 9 r y l criminal law that apply to the determination of
t r rn:ust@m~nqarylnm~us 3lrismkRm:gg criminal responsibility for a criminal offense and to the determination of any conseqoential
. f i . . . .. . . . n , rn ,, penalfles. Book One also deals with the court's
a h n n + gmrLuliGmylrrr uisc r r~ng; it;m ji~risdictio~i over a partici~lar person or course of condoct. Supplementary to Book One (General
i 0 a f i ~ s r r ~ ~ @ ? l d figs f~k; 6 i s ~ f i s ~ n q s ~ Provisions), Books Two to Four of the Criminal
i i j a f i~L~rf i sus l f lm ~ t ; n r L ~ j n s ~ u ~ i i j n ~ L u r ~ s u s Code contain a catalog of criminal offenses, divided into different categories or families.
r @ m l G j a ~ p r
W Q M : ~ S Q ~ ~ U S H W ~ ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ U I N I M I ~ ~ I I The nature of every law is that it is open - - " - to interpretation. It is a central characteristic of ufilmlrr‘i h c n s " m ~ s m : f i ~ m i s m r r ~ r m o f judicial decision makinr that the ~11lderlyinr - . -
U f U u u s s legal provisions, with every judgment, become
i ~ k m b i n ~ j k m ~ t j ~ n r j r m o f m r ~ s o r u p r j f i ~ ~ l ever more precisely defined. Only after many years of application, settled jurisprudence will
n S H ~ f ~ H k f l r r : l f l m a r ~ f i S $ ~ f i yfiWl\~tfisfisa have developped. after generations of judges,
c/lrr;~lQrnSH~jZ_l rLmlrr;MsmrrL{Ln&wljHhj prosecutors and lawyers have used the law. The present law, like any other one, may contain
i~: rnmtf isdsls is1 .d~fiU Ln:nfim@ EhrumTr inconsistencies and uncertainties. However. I
oj'slrflmuqUJg figoaGj"~isrs]Piit;I m f i ~ s have tried to make this translation a text which can be i~nderstood out of itself, by harmonizing
mnBs401?li EhmnBso~knnkr h b m & ~ 4 the English translation with the underlying
?:
~ l i l g ~ ~ c / l r r ~ ~ ~ Q u ~ ~ m $ s ~ m m i ~ f ~ IthUImq ultimateguidance.
M L ~ E i s ~ f i ~ l f l q s i y i o b a ~ j 6 ~ ~ t ~ f i l m l r r Article 5 of the Criminal Code states that in criminal matters the law shall be strictly
tina"7afiaiJaln~sQ 7 r d u g m m m n w ~ i f i B s construed and its ofapplicat;olr cannot be
Page I I I
~ C i ~ ~ l m S f l $ f i ~ U ~ ~ L ~ I L T ~ F I N ~ N ~ ~ ~ ~ S I @ J J Y extended or interpreted by analog). However,
Liilamqg certain offences are not clearly defined in the UerqNgw6Ss'SLQimsAnnk Code. thus leave them ooen to interoretation. At1
:~~s"lrr8~dflf lk~a~fi~~fl~~syl1~ gtg:hr5~6m .attempt' to commit a felony or tnisdetneanour
~ ~ ~ U m r u i i ~ m l u r , ,uaijsub- ~ u f i g u a z f i g y e has been defined in Article 27 of the Code. 'Attempt' is also a misdetneanour, i n the cases
FI@~~Qfm~iCiaqhblIm bm i ~ L f i k f l f l q 9 ~ r " u s provided for by law, for certain criminal esija,, LuL;WuaFI@u q13nr&i8nrCiJrjiObNLMIj offences prescribed in the Code. Since Article
27 covers an attempt to commit a felony, no u e r @ a t m 6 s s w s i ~ a q a ~ ~ u ~ f l ~ ~ r ~ l ~ r a m r m q attempt to commit this crime has been
a bm i ~ i f i f i u g + i j b ~ ~ ~ ; ~ g q f i g E S M S ~ ~ prescribed elsewhere in the Code.
~ .. .. . . . . . .
~ J U I S : i ? ~ i k m ~ s i r In order to facilitate the understanding
z ~ a r ~ m ~ ~ b a w s ~ u ~ ~ ~ ~ l d i : the following remarks might be helpful:
M L ~ b90 i s ~ f i ~ ~ n ~ 9 s y l i0ii; .mm!rulfig 'Torture and acts of cruelty' are prescribed in Article 2 10 of the Code. However. Bbritfirunrrwl-r Liilbnm$@ ~ s w s m r f i n n k .torture, or .acts of cruelty, itself is not
:ILTk!s*ILTiS 'Usm!hlfiy 8b * I " W individually defined.
i s j f i 8 ~ r s l : r s r ~~ ~
. , . . : . . ., w s ~ ~ h ~ c l r 6 : ~ f i i b ~ f i u ~ n g s y tj,ijchw~m A number of Articles of the Code, : ' . ., ?: . . ' S ' , . , ,
namely Articles 217. 451 and 456 prescribe b 9 ~ 4 $ . . ~ G ~ ~ ~ % V . L T I @ ~ . , i ~ a f i u ~ @ ~ m ~ ~ ~ offetlces related to .violence,, Witllout a clear
. . :
~ $ t 7 i 8 ~ 4 , 6 3 j i ~ . . ~ . .. , . . . r 3 i r ~ ~ r g u $ U ~ b r i : ~ m u ~ .. ,
t j , o r E ~ m ~ & ~ ~ r i s i r j n 7 i i s ~ ? .... .-
knnkmrt~5miij , , I ~ ~ I L T ? $ J ~ ~ " "16jbi$]fi.. :a The terms 'specific' 'other' and
miiJ . R ~ ~ ~ - LqrmsrL,qa wImgILT 6SSqbIfiu 'special' have beeti used in certan articles of the Code. They appear to be ordinary in nature in
I@'Vr mi i~~a rs :~8chwsSwmu~qamm tile Khiner language, however the meaning shifts igr 6 ~ i s ~ h n 7 h n ~ h r g c l r ~ ~ s * I L T ~ b ~ ~ m l @ c j g r markedly in the English text. Desoite several
r@sr i s l i ~ c h w s m i l l ~ m f i $ ~ d n $ s c h ~ ~ ~ ~ r ~ ~ f i u m ~ discussions with national judges on ;heir usage,
r ~ u ~ i s m r t L ~ m i i j ~ b r S ~ ~ gsmsdrm:LmILT there seems to be no com~non appropriate solution. Please refer to Article 668 of this Code
c l rc r~c l runm%ILTr~ILTr Q ~ ~ ~ ~ J ~ ~ ~ ~ L ~ as an example reflecting the usage of these rnrnm~hl@i~ i l 3 ~ m m l $ : ~ @ t l l ~ f i l i l l i ~ f i m f i j ~ t l terms.
Page I 111
'Day release' ~ @ i l S l ~ f i ; b f i l ~ ~ H h l a N (WLm 'Day release' (Article 127) has been used in the English translation instead of
9DN) ~ $ N C J 'semiliberty. itillT .semiliberty' 1Q1 'semiliberty,, though .semiliberty. is
r n s r ~ f i r ~ ~ s q b r j u r n r i b r used in the French law.
'Forced entry' gb 'illegal entry' ~~fl i lSI~fi ;b 'Forced entry' and 'illegal entry' are used in the English translation for Article 79 and
m m H S j t ~ N '$N@J 'breaking in' " in' Article 80 respectively, The literal translation of the two articles would mean 'breaking in' and 'climbing in'.
isfnr~Firn"mn~rniiqtlm~uiii~u~iiu ., I have to acknowledge the difficulty in translating this Criminal Code. I am aware that Lnqsvrs'r i~~m'ufii~uRrmhn's~Gsi's~sifi this bilingual book is not perfect despite all
rn:im:rs l$~:firA jrns@bi~ub~kn"~ufifilnfir 8 best efforts. I would be grateful to receive 0 ~- ~. .. ~
-- ... ~ S t N ~ ~ l ~ f i ~ ~ ~ ~ l i ~ b ~ f l l T 1 ~ ~ f i ~ f ~ 8 1 1 1 1 1 ~ ~ ' i : ~ ~
constructive feedback and comments from all
" d readers. Any suggestions are welcome under
E ~ & $ u s ~ n ~ u w B i j ~ f i m s S i b ~ k mE!illl:$GllT cc.feedback201 [email protected].
Phnom Penh, May 201 1
Page 1 1V
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.............................. ............................................................. m i ~ q f g ~ ~ u ~ n ~ g ~ i s l ~ t l r n n r i i m i 3 a ..
M L ~ 6.- F ~ ~ ~ H ~ ~ ~ ~ G J I I I ~ ~ N ~ U I F ~ N U ~ I ~ ~ N .............................................................................. 3
mlm TO.. mi~q fg r j~~~n$n_s~ ian r~ rnn ra t l ggi chtl ............................................................ 3 as d w ~ m 99.. qnnrmnis6psri'h ................................................................................................... 3
Page 1 V
m ~ m 93.. u s l @ m i 8 n r n s ~ u @ ~ i d q b m m m ~ s n ~ m ............................................................... 5
M L ~ 9ni.. ~ n l ~ ~ ~ ~ r j ~ ~ ~ f l ~ s r y l f i ~ ~ 6 1 ~ ~ ~ 1 ~ i 8 1 1 1 ~ ~ ~ i l ~ l ~ ~ ~ ~ @ ~ 1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ........................... 5 o . a -
~ ~ i i l 96.. ~ I ~ ~ ~ R U B I @ N L U @ ; I ~ L L I S W V E N ............................................................................ 5 a -- ifins 13 ................................................................................................................................................... 5 *
usr@mi~nrns~u@grdr~~~ilitls~is~n:nasuno~nn~a .................................................................. 5
w ~ m 9 e . - ~ s 2 @ g gusc r~c r~u f lg r~wnnr r~ ip ....................................................................... 5
'dl@ NO: d s l b l ~ m : a d s a F i i g .............................................................................................. 6 d d
M L ~ ~ 9 . . m l l g ~ n ; ? h r n s ~ ~ m b ............................................................................................. 6
m ~ m NI~).. m c r ~ W ~ r ~ w i s ~ n l i 1 r n : u ~ 2 ~ ~ ~ 1 t h w i s ~ f i .............................................................. 6
M L ~ ~ m . . m r G s r m s ~ u m s ~ t j ~ @ Eb18m ........................... .. ............................................. 7
. CI . Q n s 9 ........................................................................................................................................... 7 . ~ s ~ ~ m n s i d .................................................................................................................................. 7
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MLm 139.. S~J'~SLUISNUIF~? ............................................................................................... 8 e. 0 , . . . .
~ ~ s i l ba.- S U U S ~ ~ ~ S ~ I ~ S U tl ................................................................................................... 8 - Y , 3 10- MLfi7 136.. S L U ~ S W l S ~ ~ l t j ~ n S n .............................................................................................. 8
0 , 0 - m ~ m ne.- s w c r s w ~ s ~ n m r r ~ s i i .................................................................................................. 9
m ~ m mo.. Ewcrs*u i sy f indm~mm~m: nnrrt;a~nrmm~mmrm:r~~m~~n:~@ii ................ 9 * l jnns b .......................................................................................................................................... 10
~nrrrnqismr~ss~ru?m~~t y m r ~ ~ t f l m ~ l m r s ~ n r 2 m ~ ~ l ~ n m _ s y ...................................... lo
m ~ m m9.. m ~ l r Q s s ~ n r z m ~ ~ i r ~ ~ m r ~ ~ r r n $ u ~ m ~ ~ ~ ...................................................... 10
mlm m13.- m r ~ ~ ~ n r a w o j u gmgor ................................................................................... lo
M L ~ mm.. ~ T ~ I ~ I ~ ~ U G J U ....................................................................................................... 11 *, m ~ m md.. m ~ m r m r s m ~ m r r n ~ ~ m u ~ j u .................................................................................... 11 . . m ~ m m ~ . . ysmnnno ............................................................................................................. 12
> . MLTI m ~ . . msmnrsnptl gmru$ .............................................................................................. 12 - m ~ m ma..…