Royal adultery row in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's Princess Norodom Marie Ranariddh is seeking to prosecute her estranged husband and ousted royalist leader Prince Norodom Ranariddh for adultery, a court official said on Monday.

Ranariddh, the son of  former king Norodom Sihanouk, could face up to one year in prison if found guilty under new monogamy laws.

Sok Kalyan, a deputy prosecutor at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said they were probing a complaint filed two weeks ago accusing Ranariddh, often seen in public with his mistress, of adultery.

"I am investigating the case to find evidence," Sok Kalyan said, adding that he would invite both Princess Marie and Ranariddh to court once he had completed his investigation.

The kingdom in September passed a monogamy law which punishes unfaithful spouses and banned polygamy and incest.

Perpetrators face between a month and a year in prison, plus a fine of up to $250.
    
Prime Minister Hun Sen, Ranariddh's arch rival, proposed the law after publicly grumbling about government officials bringing their mistresses instead of their wives to official functions.

Ranariddh said publicly last month that he is in a long-term relationship with classical dancer Ouk Phalla. The pair have a three-year-old son.