Malaysia deports fugitive Cambodian policeman

PHNOM PENH, Dec 22 (Reuters) A fugitive Cambodian former police chief sentenced to 18 years jail for murdering a judge was deported from Malaysia despite the promise of a Finnish visa on human rights grounds.

The one-legged Heng Pov, who fled in July to Singapore and then Malaysia after being sacked as Phnom Penh police chief, was handed over to Cambodian officials in Kuala Lumpur before being taken home on a special flight.

''The Malaysian courts decided to deport him back to Cambodia,'' deputy national police Sok Phal said yesterday.

On his return to Phnom Penh's military airport, Heng Pov was whisked away in a police convoy straight to court. More than 100 riot officers equipped with tear gas and rifles sealed off the street outside the building.

Earlier this month, Finland said it planned to give him visa because human rights groups were concerned about his conviction in absentia for the 2003 murder of judge Sok Sethamony.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong attacked the Finnish decision, saying it had weakened international efforts to fight crime and accused Helsinki of being taken in by Heng Pov's ''fabricated claims''.

In 2004, Helsinki granted asylum to Sok Yoeun, a Cambodian opposition party member accused of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Hun Sen in a rocket attack on his convoy six years previously.

Sok Yeoun fled to Thailand, where he spent almost five years in prison, before being allowed to go to Finland.

Heng Pov's Malaysian lawyer had said his client faced torture or even death if he were sent home.

REUTERS MS BD0950