Law and judiciary

The Senate on Wednesday passed some laws, including an amendment to the Criminal code, which will punish anyone who insults the king with a penalty of one to five years in jail. ...

UN rights experts yesterday urged the government to reconsider constitutional amendments, including a law that forbids insulting the monarchy, saying the changes were too vague and failed to meet international standards. Parliament last week adopted a law that forbids insulting the monarchy, along with other amendments ...

Cambodia’s prison population swelled to more than 28,000 inmates last year – well over the system’s capacity – with Interior Minister Sar Kheng suggesting yesterday that the construction of more luxurious pay-to-stay prison blocks for wealthy inmates could help alleviate the severe overcrowding. ...

A group of 35 international labour and human rights advocacy groups yesterday called for charges against a trio of Cambodian civil society activists to be dropped. “We, the undersigned global unions and international human rights and workers’ rights organizations, call for the charges against Cambodian human ...

Twelve judges and five prosecutors were verbally “disciplined” yesterday during a meeting of the Supreme Council of Magistracy presided over by King Norodom Sihamoni. Sam Prachea Manith, spokesman for the council, declined to name the people singled out. “This is for a small mistake that they forgot ...

About 300 people from 11 provinces gathered at Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet near Wat Botum pagoda yesterday to ask for help in their ongoing dispute with Empire Big Capital Limited, an investment company that cheated thousands of victims out of nearly $60 million. In May ...

A family living in Kratie province’s Snoul district have said they are concerned for their safety following the destruction of their home. Local authorities last week dismantled the home using an excavator because it had been built on state land that is now earmarked for the ...

The National Assembly’s spokesman yesterday dismissed a statement released by the dissolved opposition CNRP criticising an extraordinary session of parliament called this week to pass amendments to the Penal Code and constitution. An extraordinary session was held on Wednesday to discuss and then approve the Penal ...

Local journalists have launched an online campaign calling on the courts to consider dropping charges against two former Radio Free Asia journalists, Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin, who were arrested by authorities in November. ...

A representative of villagers in a land dispute in Oddar Meanchey province’s Anlong Veng district was arrested on Wednesday for alleged property damage. Sat Bora, 34, has been representing 122 families in Anlong Veng commune, who have been locked in a land dispute with authorities for ...

The National Assembly unanimously passed amendments to the Constitution and Criminal Code Wednesday that will impose restrictions on political rights and make it illegal to disrespect the King – changes that observers called a “disaster” for civil liberties in the Kingdom. In a full plenary session, ...

Thai and Cambodian authorities met earlier this week to discuss their extradition agreement and strengthen prisoner exchange – a meeting that came just days after Thailand extradited Cambodian refugee Sam Sokha amid concerns about the fate of more than 100 opposition figures who have fled ...

The National Assembly yesterday approved an amendment to the Penal Code allowing prison sentences for anyone insulting the King.An extraordinary session was held yesterday to discuss and then approve the Penal Code amendment, as well as amending five articles of the constitution and a draft ...

Two men were arrested and temporarily detained on Monday in Koh Kong province after authorities discovered 34 marijuana plants being grown illegally in the gardens in front of their homes, police said yesterday. ...

Six officials have filed a complaint to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court asking for their Funcinpec membership to be reinstated after they were removed from the party by its leader, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, at the end of last month. ...

Two Mother Nature activists, who were released from prison yesterday, said they had been “robbed” of their freedom for the past five months after being arrested for documenting suspected illegal sand-bearing vessels in Koh Kong without evidence that they had committed a crime.​ ...

The Ministry of Economy and Finance held a workshop yesterday to finalise a draft on a sub-decree managing non-tax revenue sources, part of the government’s attempt to improve its revenue collection. ...

The head of the bidding office for Veal Veng district in Pursat province was sent to pre-trial detention yesterday on allegations of falsifying paperwork for locals seeking land ownership documents. Heng Donin, Pursat Provincial Court spokesman, confirmed the detention and said district bidding chief Prak ...

NGOs and foreigners have been warned that they could face fines or expulsion from the country for causing confusion or affecting the results of the upcoming Senate elections. NEC spokesman Hang Puthea said the NEC has made regulations and procedures based on existing laws in Cambodia. ...

Two activists who were convicted of incitement to commit a felony and violation of privacy by Koh Kong Provincial Court may be released today following the completion of their five-month prison terms. The two environmental activists, Hun Vannak and Doem Kundy, are being detained in Prek ...

The National Assembly will hold an extraordinary session on Wednesday on some agendas including an amendment to the Penal Code that gives jail time to anyone insulting the King.The National Assembly’s permanent committees held a meeting yesterday afternoon presided by assembly President Heng Samrin to ...

Anti-human trafficking police are seeking the arrest of prominent Cham Muslim community leader and former Social Affairs Ministry official Ahmad Yahya for sending roughly 20 women to Saudi Arabia to work as maids more than a decade ago, after arresting his nephew last week. ...

Former Cambodia National Rescue Party member Ismail Pin Osman was arrested in Phnom Penh on Wednesday for alleged human trafficking, though police officials offered little detail on why he was taken into custody. ...

An investigating judge has rejected Kem Sokha’s request that he interview a representative from the US government in connection with the former opposition leader’s “treason” case, despite the fact that Sokha stands accused of plotting a US-backed overthrow of the Cambodian government. ...