The Appeals Court yesterday upheld the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s 2011 verdict ordering the opposition Sam Rainsy Party to pay a three million riel (about $750) fine to the Ministry of Interior, which sued it over the late delivery of its annual report to the ministry, said court clerk Heng Vutheara.

The ministry requires all parties to submit a report on their activities and spending every December, but the SRP’s 2006 report wasn’t received until January 2, 2007. 

SRP lawyer Choung Choungy said he had heard about the verdict but had boycotted the announcement “because I did not have confidence in the judge,” adding that he would recommend the SRP to appeal.

To contact the reporter on this story: Meas Sokchea at [email protected]