Opposition Senator to Appear in Court Today

Cambodian opposition senator Hong Sok Hour (C) is brought to Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Photo: Xinhua/Phearum

Khmer Times/Ven Rathavong

Tuesday, 01 September 2015

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – Opposition senator Hong Sok Hour, charged with incitement and forgery, will appear in the Appeal Court today seeking release on bail, his party said.

Defense lawyer Choung Choungy said he would argue the senator’s detention did not follow procedure and he was not caught in the act as the charges claimed.

Mr. Sok Hour’s team has filed a complaint against the Municipal Court judge who ordered he be detained at Prey Sar prison.

Mr. Sok Hour was arrested last month after posting a video on his Facebook page showing a border treaty with Vietnam he said was fake and being used by the government in border demarcation negotiations. The charges against him allege he forged the treaty he posted.

“This detention did not follow procedure,” Mr. Choungy said.

“I will try my best to protect my client,” he said. “If the appeal court finds that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s warrant is faulty, my client will be released.” 

One day after posting the video on August 12, Prime Minister Hun Sen called Mr. Sok Hour “treasonous,” and said foreign embassies should not interfere. Mr. Sok Hour has dual Cambodian and French citizenship. 

Mr. Sok Hour was arrested on August 15, and charged the next day. He was detained and immediately sent to Prey Sar prison.

 
Civil society organizations and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party have called his arrest “politically motivated” and said the government was breaking the law.

Members of the Senate have parliamentary immunity. The Senate said the circumstances of the case meant he could be arrested anyway and did not revoke his immunity.