Legal and judicial system

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday convicted self-exiled dissident Sourn Serey Ratha of incitement, plotting and obstructing elections, while three alleged co-conspirators were also convicted of plotting and obstructing elections. The four were sentenced to between five and seven years in jail for the charges, ...

The trial of two Chinese men and three Cambodian women on charges of human trafficking began in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday after they were arrested in May for allegedly brokering marriages between Cambodian women and prospective grooms in China. ...

Seven Cambodian loggers have been released from a Thai prison a year after they were caught crossing the border in search of rosewood. ...

Former Cambodian Prime Min­ister Pen Sovann, who was installed by the Vietnamese after they toppled the Khmer Rouge, but was later removed and imprisoned in Vietnam, has announced a plan to file a complaint against Cambodia’s eastern neighbor at the International Criminal Court. ...

Lawyers for 11 opposition CNRP activists facing insurrection charges Thursday walked out of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in protest after the judges refused to let three CNRP lawmakers facing the same charges observe what was supposed to be the first full day of hearings. ...

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has summoned activist monk Keo Somaly, for questioning over an alleged attack on a fellow monk at the city’s Wat Neakavorn last month. ...

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday wrapped up its three-day trial of self-exiled Cambodian Sourn Serey Ratha and three others accused of colluding to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, hearing hours of old statements from the dissident. Mr. Serey Ratha, president of ...

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has dismissed without any explanation a lawsuit filed by the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM) after one of its reporters was viciously attacked by Daun Penh district security guards in May. Lay Samean, a 27-year-old reporter for CCIM’s Voice of ...

Phnom Penh Municipal Court will hear case of Freedom Park protest on December 25. Chuong Chou Ngy, defense lawyer of CNRP’s senior official Meach Sovannara who was arrested last month for his role in the protest and put in detention at Prey Sar prison, said Saturday ...

In a rare intervention, Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni has demanded an investigation over a Phnom Penh judge who interviewed an opposition party activist without his attorney being present. A lawmaker had complained to the King that Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge Keo Mony had questioned Ouch ...

Human rights group (LICADHO) has called for the release of 18 activists who have been wrongfully imprisoned following a recent spate of arrests as Cambodia will celebrate International Human Rights Day on December 10th. In a statement issued today [Monday], the right group also condemns the ...

The Kratie Provincial Court has freed on bail two of three men arrested for the October slaying of 49-year-old reporter Taing Try after the third man told the court that he carried out the murder on his own, the court’s chief prosecutor said Sunday. Taing Try, ...

A London court on Friday convicted three British men of conspiracy to commit fraud following an investigation by the U.K.’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into a British biofuel firm that swindled investors in its Cambodian venture. Gary West, the former director of Sustainable Agro Energy (SAE); James ...

A Tuol Kork resident arrested last month following a complaint by a powerful businessman who wants his family’s land was released on bail yesterday. ...

Four bodyguards of the fugitive Thong Sarath were charged with intentional murder and conspiracy in the death of tycoon Ung Meng Cheu who was shot dead last month when he had stepped out of his vehicle. Seang Veasna, Ly Sao, Meas Sambath and Koy Chanthol were ...

A father and daughter, arrested last month following a complaint by a powerful landowner who wants their land in Phnom Penh, called on the tycoon to engage with them face to face in a courtroom hearing yesterday. ...

Eight land activists put in prison last month after a swift trial say they will hold a hunger strike if they are not released. The eight activists were part of a roundup in November for street protests against city officials and a development project at ...

National Election Committee (NEC) Secretary-General Tep Nytha said Wednesday that imprisoned CNRP official Meach Sovannara could be named as one of the opposition’s 55 lawmakers even though he stands charged with insurrection. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Friday that the CNRP would ask Yont Tharo, ...

An activist monk set to face trial today on widely disputed charges of incitement alongside a so-called “terrorist” leader vowed yesterday to use the hearing to preach to the judiciary. In a statement released Sunday, 16 NGOs called for authorities to drop the charges against ...

Rady Mom, Cambodian-American state representative in Massachusetts, U.S.A, was not allowed yesterday to meet with 17 activists who are currently being detained at Prey Sar prison. Rady Mom and his colleagues as well as Members of Parliament and Senators of opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party went ...

Hundreds of people gathered in Phnom Penh yesterday to mark the International Day to End Impunity, calling on the government to tackle the issue by reforming its court system. Speaking at the event at the capital’s Cambodiana Hotel, Preap Kol, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, ...

A group of civil society organization has condemned recent arrest of two citizens who were involved in a land dispute with the Khun Sear Import Export company, and called on the government to release them and ensure the safety of their family. In a joint statement ...

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Friday that the CNRP would attempt to secure the release of detained CNRP official Meach Sovan­nara by promoting him to become a lawmaker so that he can enjoy parliamentary immunity. Mr. Sovannara, the head of the CNRP’s information department, was arrested ...

A 24-year-old student was sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday for posting 14 nude photos of his girlfriend on Facebook in an attempt to extort money from her in exchange for deleting them. Presiding judge Mong Mony Sorphea said ...