Appeal date pushed back for Sok Hour

Protestors outside Phnom Penh court before Hong Sok Hour's appearance in court late last year. Hong Menea

The Court of Appeal yesterday postponed a hearing for opposition Senator Hong Sok Hour after his legal team failed to appear.

Sok Hour was sentenced to seven years in prison last November after he was found guilty on charges stemming from a Facebook video in which he said a “fake” Cambodia-Vietnam border treaty showed that the post-Khmer Rouge government planned to dissolve their shared border.

He was found guilty of incitement to commit a crime as well as forgery.

At the Appeal Court yesterday, none of his five defense attorneys, nor Sok Hour himself, showed up. Presiding judge Seng Sivutha said defence lawyers had requested a postponement.

“The lawyers requested to delay the trial on January 4 for two reasons: requesting the court to call treaty experts to explain about the treaty, and connecting the internet to the court room to [show Sok Hour’s] research,” Sivutha said.

“This is a criminal case. We cannot open the hearing without the lawyers, although the request was not reasonable,” he said, adding the hearing will now take place sometime next month.

Contact author: Niem Chheng

MOST VIEWED

Ream base allegations must end, urges official
A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical
Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing
To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable
CP denied registration documents by ministry
The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do
PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1
Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to
Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit
Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former
Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote
The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.