Meet Noun Chea's Lawyer: Son Arun

Son Arun, like Noun Chea, comes from the province of Battambang, in the northwest of Cambodia. Arun, reportedly, had lost 3 brothers and a sister during the regime Noun Chea helped steer. He, with his family, left for the US when the regime was ousted and came back to Cambodia in 1989. He since has represented Prince Rannaridh and other high-ranking FUNCINPEC officials. FUNCINPEC was accused by CPP in 1997 for colluding with the remaining Khmer Rouge, which resulted in a coup d'etat in which loyal to CPP military forces were used. Son Arun continued represented beleagured Rannaridh, including most recenly filing a defamation lawsuit, on the prince's behalf, against Nhiek Bun Chhay, the Secretary-General of FUNCINPEC, who earlier accused the prince of an allegedly illegal sale of the FUNCINPEC HQs, for which Nhiek Bun Chhay claimed the prince had netted $3.6 million. In the midst of the controversy Son Arun declared that "Nhiek Bun Chhay defamed Prince Norodom Ranariddh in the hope of reducing the prince's popularity". The lawsuit filed by Son Arun, on behalf of the prince, contains allegations against Nhiek Bun Chhay and calls for the prosecution of the latter. Son Arun doesn't appear to have any experience with international criminal law.