The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has wrapped its probe into acting Cambodia National Rescue Party president Kem Sokha’s failure to appear on a court summons, according to a letter from the investigating judge.

Dated August 9 and delivered to Sokha’s house yesterday, the letter said the investigation into the criminal charge of ignoring a court summons “has been closed, please take note”.

Sokha has been holed up at the opposition party headquarters since May 26, refusing to appear before the court as a witness in an alleged prostitution case widely seen as politically motivated.

A National Election Committee official, an opposition commune chief and four human rights defenders have been imprisoned since late April on allegations stemming from the case.

Court spokesman Ly Sophana yesterday said while the investigating stage has been closed, the date for a potential trial hearing had not yet been set.

“The judge has notified that the investigation has ended and will send the case to the prosecutor,” he said.

Sam Sokong, Sokha’s lawyer, said if his client was summonsed to trial, he would appeal.