The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court issued a February 14 statement clarifying the circumstances around the arrest of a journalist named Ung Thap Reang, publisher of Khmer Cheayden, saying he had been detained for “fraud”.

The letter said the journalist, better known as Baraing, was arrested after an individual, who was not identified, filed a complaint against him.

The letter said the individual had depended on Baraing to have the title to his land processed, but he did not receive it.

“Ung Thap Reang, alias Barang, has been charged with fraud committed in Poipet and O’Chrou communes, both in Poipet town.

The offences are punishable under Articles 377 and 378 of the Criminal Code.

“The investigating judge questioned the accused, examined the legal facts and found evidence of guilt. He therefore issued a pre-trial detention order to continue the investigation.

“Ung Thap Reang’s commission of the acts are criminal offences and he will be held accountable before the law,” the letter read.

Sum Chankea, a coordinating officer for rights group ADHOC in Banteay Meanchey, said the case was due to a personal dispute over a land title.

“In principle, we monitor cases of human right violations and violations of basic freedoms like freedom of expression.

“But when it comes to an individual’s personal matter, we may monitor their treatment within the court system, but it has nothing to do with these basic freedoms and human rights,” he noted.

The family of Ung Thap Reang could not be reached for comment on February 15.

In addition to this case, Reang had also been summoned by the court over accusations of defamation and incitement to discriminate in the past year.