Keut Rith

Koeut Rith (Khmer: កើត រិទ្ធ; born 2 January 1979) is a Cambodian legal expert and the current Minister of Justice.

In this Cambodian name, the surname is Koeut. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Rith.
His Excellency
Koeut Rith
កើត រិទ្ធ
Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia
Assumed office
22 August 2023
Prime MinisterHun Manet
Minister of Justice
Assumed office
30 March 2020
Prime MinisterHun Sen
Hun Manet
Preceded byAng Vong Vathana
Secretary of State for Justice
In office
2014 – 2 April 2020
Personal details
Born (1979-01-02) 2 January 1979
Central Region, Democratic Kampuchea (now in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia)
OccupationLaw professor, politician

Biography

Youth on the banks of the Mekong

Koeut Rith was born on January 2, 1979, in the last days of the Khmer Rouge regime in the village of Prey Toteung, Prey Chhor District, Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia (then-Central Region, Democratic Kampuchea).

In 1999, when Koeut Rith started his law studies in Phnom Penh, Koeut Rith obtained a scholarship allowing him to continue his higher education in France, in Lyon.[1]

In 2000, Koeut Rith obtained a bachelor’s degree in private law at the University Lumière Lyon 2, then the following year a master’s degree (Master 1 at the time) with the distinction “Very good” from the same institution. In 2002, he specialized in criminal law and criminal sciences (Master 2) at Lyon 3 university.

He began his career as a teacher at the Royal University of Law and Economics where he continued to teach for the French Department of Law until 2016.

In 2007, he joined the Cambodian Ministry of Justice, first as Undersecretary of State and then promoted to Secretary of State in 2013. Closely involved in the work of compiling the Cambodian Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes in collaboration with French legal advisors,[2] he contributed to the harmonization of law in criminal matters throughout the country.[3]

In April 2020, King Norodom Sihamoni issued a royal decree appointing Koeut Rith as Minister of Justice, replacing Ang Vong Vathana, who had held the position for 16 years.[4]

In September 2020, Rith criticized union leader Rong Chhun for defamation and misrepresentation of the border issue with the intention of inciting social unrest is illegal and destroys the peace and stability of the country.[5]

In January 2021, Rith directed the formation of two committees to begin the process of establishing separate courts for commercial and labour disputes, with the support of human rights advocacy groups.[6]

He has publicly expressed his support for Hun Manet as the most fit successor of Hun Sen at the head of the executive government of Cambodia.[7]

Contribution

Expert of the law in Cambodia

Koeut Rith is one of the finest experts in Cambodian law of his generation with an "exemplary academic career".[1]

Fighting for due process within the Cambodian judiciary

Koeut Rith has strived to apply the recommendations the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for the reform of the legal system and the judiciary so that courts are independent, trustworthy and guarantee equality.[8]

Court officials at all levels must ... ensure the fair provision of justice for the people. Legal services must be conducted quickly, accurately and fairly to further enhance the honour and dignity of the judiciary.

— Koeut Rith

While Koeut Rith has emphasized the necessity of due process and the fight against corruption in Cambodian courts, more than a third of the nation’s prison population is in pre-trial detention, though some rights groups put that figure closer to 75 percent.[9] Koeut Rith has therefore hastened court procedures to reduce prison overcrowding.[10]

Works
  • “Introduction to Cambodian law” (2003 and 2005)
  • “Explanation of the project of the development of the Penal Code  and its contribution to the study of Cambodian criminal law” (2005)
  • “Introduction to Cambodian law” (2016), volume published by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation also entitled

References
  1. "Koeut Rith, ancien diplômé de l'Université Jean Moulin, devient Ministre de la Justice du Cambodge". Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 (in French). Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  2. Guide de Droit Penal Cambodgien (in Khmer). Royal Ministry of Justice of Cambodia. 2005. ISBN 978-2-911549-92-2.
  3. "H.E. Koeut Rith, a RULE Student who became the Minister of Justice". Royal University of Law and Economics. 2020-09-08. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  4. Sochan, Ry (2020-04-02). "Justice minister promises good governance, solidarity". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  5. Phoung, Vantha (2020-09-25). "Cambodia Responds to Australia's Comments regarding the Recent Wave of Arrests". Cambodianess. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  6. "Cambodia set to have trade, labour courts by end of 2021 – Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights". Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  7. Hutt, David (2021-12-03). "Cambodia's Political Succession Could Get Messy". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  8. Dara, Voun (2022-05-21). "Justice minister: Ensure fair provision of justice to people". Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  9. Sarath, Sorn (2021-05-26). "Justice minister pledges to fight corruption amid calls for judicial reform | CamboJA News". cambojanews.com. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  10. Hul, Reaksmey (2020-05-19). "Justice Ministry: 'Reforms' Will Hasten Court Procedures to Reduce Prison Overcrowding". VOA. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
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