Ex-PM Ranariddh sentenced to 18 months in jail

Former Cambodian Prime Minister, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, was sentenced in absentia to 18 months in prison yesterday on embezzlement charges filed by members of the royalist political party he once led.

The action should make it difficult for Ranariddh, a once-influential national figure who is the son of former King Norodom Sihanouk, to stage a political comeback. Ranariddh was co-prime minister of the country from 1993-97, and his supporters alleged the move was politically motivated.

The Funcinpec party, which ousted Ranariddh as president in October 2006, had sued the prince accusing him of allegedly embezzling some $3.6 million from the sale of the party's headquarters in August that year.