Khmer kickboxer's attackers plead
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/08/2008 09:13:55 PM PDT
Kickboxing instructor Oumry Ban is pictured at left in black shirt. He
was the trainer for Ramya Hang, right front; Morong May, left back;
and Pros You, right back. (File Photo)LONG BEACH - Three Cambodian
residents of Long Beach pleaded no contest this week in the 2006
beating of a popular local kickboxing instructor.
Than Kim and Chan Um had been charged with felony assault with intent
to cause great bodily injury for a Nov. 6 beating outside the Bamboo
Island Restaurant on Anaheim Street that hospitalized Oumry Ban with a
fractured jaw and multiple lacerations and contusions.
Rantha Sok was charged with assault without the bodily injury
allegation.
Ban, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide and former kickboxing
champion in his homeland, has operated a Khmer kickboxing studio on
Anaheim Street near Pacific Avenue for more than 20 years and is a
respected elder in the Long Beach Cambodian community.
Kim, who initially was to be tried on a third-strike offense, faced a
sentence of 25-years to life. However, Judge James Pierce granted a
Romero Motion by the defense, which allowed one of Kim's previous
strikes to be dropped.
All three defendants pleaded no contest. Kim, 34, was sentenced to 13
years in state prison. He will be required to serve at least 85
percent of the sentence, or 11 years.
The office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has a hold on
Kim, meaning he could face deportation to Cambodia once his prison
term is completed.
Um was sentenced to five years and Sok was given two years in state
prison.
The pleas were accepted over prosecution objections.
Deputy District Attorney Julian Rencana said he was ready to go to
trial on all three and proceed with the third-
strike case against Kim.
The case was filed in November 2006 and has faced numerous delays, the
addition of Sok as a defendant and a replacement of attorneys by Kim
before the sentences were announced on Tuesday.
According to pretrial testimony, Ban and a friend, Nan Meas, were
having dinner at Bamboo Island when the melee occurred.
Ban says the altercation began when Kim approached and punched him in
the face without provocation and Sok threw an object at him.
Gary Ung, then-owner of the restaurant, testified Ban said, "I have no
idea why you hitting me."
Ban testified he only barely knew Kim and when he asked why he had
been struck, Kim replied "go ask your bitchy wife."
Ban insists he doesn't know what that meant and is unaware of any
relationship between his wife and the assailants.
According to Ban's testimony, Ung urged the group to take its dispute
outside. Ban says when he went outside he was struck behind by a heavy
object, possibly a tire iron. He remembers seeing a shoe coming toward
his face and blacked out.
Ban was hospitalized for several days before returning to the gym
where he still works.
Asked about the verdicts, Ban said "I agree with the court."
greg.mellen@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
562-499-1291
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