Son Chhay, vice-president of the Candlelight Party, failed to appear for questioning regarding a complaint lodged by the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and a public defamation lawsuit filed by the National Election Committee (NEC).

Municipal court spokesman and deputy prosecutor Plang Sophal told The Post on June 30 that Chhay’s lawyer had requested a delay, as his client was abroad and would not return until July 3.

Choung Choungy told The Post that his client was not evading the summons, but had not yet returned from a trip to Australia.

Back on June 14, the CPP filed a lawsuit against Chhay, alleging that he had publicly made misleading comments on its conduct during the recent commune council elections. The CPP had asked the court to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law and also demanded $1 million in compensation for mental anguish.

The NEC’s suit, filed on June 17, asked the court to charge Son Chhay with public defamation under Article 305 of the Criminal Code, in relation to his “distortion of the facts” surrounding the elections. The NEC also asked the court to order him to publicly apologise in writing.