Prominent media personality Soy Sopheap appeared in Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday to face questioning over defamation and breach of privacy allegations made by the managing editor of the Nokorwat newspaper.

Soy Sopheap, general director of the DAP Media Center, said yesterday that he appeared in court in accordance with a summons, after Touch Kongkea filed a complaint against him last Wednesday.

“I appeared to answer [questions] in front of deputy prosecutor, Meas Chan Piset, which is the respectful act to the court,” he said, adding that he “asked the court not to take action on this case”.

Touch Kongkea said last week that the complaint centred around claims over a letter that stated “I had intentions to arrest [Soy Sopheap]” and allegations that Soy Sopheap read his personal emails.

Soy Sopheap claimed yesterday that the complaint does not have enough supporting evidence to warrant defamation and breach of privacy allegations and called the lawsuit an “unreasonable accusation”.

Soy Sopheap was embroiled in a similar defamation case earlier this month when former Constitutional Council member Son Soubert filed a complaint against him for alleged defamatory comments made about his father, the late resistance leader Son Sann.

Soy Sopheap accused Son Sann of selling land near Preah Vihear temple to Thailand in cooperation with coalition partner and former Khmer Rouge head of state Khieu Samphan, but made a public apology that resulted in the complaint being withdrawn.