A Cambodian court released yesterday the reputed leader of the infamous "Bamboo Union" (
Chen Chi-li (陳啟禮), 58, thought to be the spiritual leader of the Bamboo Union's 10,000 members worldwide, and Taiwanese national Lia Ming-in, 28, were convicted of possession of illegal weapons and sentenced to three years in prison.
The court released the two defendants after citing the one year they had already spent in Phnom Penh's National Military Police Headquarters since a raid on Chen's home in July last year.
The judge suspended the other two years of his sentence, dismissed charges of involvement in organized crime and using North Korean diplomatic license plates.
"He used illegal weapons because of fear for his own security," said Judge Yia Sakorn, who presided over the trial. "The three were not involved with organized crime."
Quong Ouquing, 45, from China, who was also charged in the case, was sentenced to just over one year in prison but was released after completing his sentence.
"The defendant has sacrificed his own money for the public interest, such as the renovation of public places in the city and helping the poor," Judge Yia Sakorn said. "This point the court opted to take into consideration."
Chen smiled after the verdict was announced and signaled to reporters with a nod of his head that he was satisfied with the verdict and would stay in Cambodia.
"This is the first just verdict in Cambodia," said Som Chan Dyna, one of the defense lawyers in the case. "Chen Chi-li will continue to stay in Cambodia and continue to promote Chinese and foreign investment in Cambodia."
Observers said that the suspected gang leader's prominence in government and business circles may have influenced the court's decision. Chen has received the prestigious title "Okhna" bestowed on prominent businessmen who benefit the community and is confirmed to have been an advisor to Senate President Chea Sim.
"Chinese investors and a request made by the Chinese Investment Association in Cambodia said that as long as one of their most important men was still in prison, the number of Chinese investors and investment capital will drop," Som Chan Dyna said.
Chen is wanted on criminal charges in Taiwan, but the two countries have no diplomatic relations or an extradition treaty.
A Taiwanese court in 1985 convicted the suspected gang leader of murder in the 1984 slaying of dissident writer Henry Liu (
He was sentenced to life in prison, but released after six years and fled to Cambodia in 1997 to avoid a crackdown in Taiwan on organized crime.
Chen and the two other men were arrested last year in a raid on his Phnom Penh home. According to the police report, a large cache of automatic weapons, including AK-47s and a grenade launcher, were found at the home. Police also seized US$4,000 in cash and two vehicles.
Since fleeing Taiwan in 1997, Chen has lived freely in Cambodia with the apparent blessing of high-ranking government officials.
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