Cambodian newspaper publisher released from prison after PM intervenes

Dam Sith (in blue) during his arrest on 8th June.
Read report on the moment he was released.

PHNOM PENH, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Publisher of Cambodian-language newspaper the Khmer Conscience News Dam Sith was released from the Prey Sar Prison Sunday noon after Prime Minister Hun Sen intervened, said his lawyer Choung Chou Ngy.

"Premier Hun Sen wrote an intervention letter to the court, so my client won his temporary release," Choung Chou Ngy said.

We paid nothing or bail for the release because of the letter, he said, adding "we all thank the prime minister and the court to provide justice for my client."

Dam Sith was jailed one week earlier under the charge of "disinformation, defamation and insult," which was filed by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Hor Namhong charged him for he published an article on his newspaper that quoted Sam Rainsy, leader of major opposition Sam Rainsy Party, as saying that the minister used to work as prison chief during the Democratic Kampuchea (DK) era and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) should bring him on trial.

Hor Namhong denied the report, by saying that he was prisoner rather than prisoner chief during that time.

Editor: Sun Yunlong