The Asian Human Rights Commission on Monday called on the Supreme Council of Magistracy and the Ministry of Justice to strengthen the code of ethics for judges in Cambodia's famously biased courts.
The code of ethics should seek to rid the system of corruption and political pressure. The appeal follows a Commission-drafted code of ethics for the judges, signed by King Norodom Sihamoni. Judges must be free of political governance and corruption, the Commission said.
Opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Keo Remy said the Supreme Council of Magistracy should push judges to follow the ethics of their profession to ensure fair, transparent and effective trials.
"After the code of ethics is formed, please, Supreme Council of Magistracy, push the judges and the prosecutors to respect the professional codes so that they are improved," he said. "This is so that the overhaul will be an independent system not involved in politics that can proceed to find justice for the victims, with a conscience that the law provides."