The Appeal Court yesterday turned down CNRP activist Ouk Pich Samnang’s request to overturn a two-year sentence for his involvement in a violent brawl between protestors and Daun Penh security guards near Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house.

During the appeal hearing in June, Samnang said he only shouted at the guards during the 2014 protest and sparred with the prosecutor and Sophal over details of the case.

The presiding judge, Samrith Sophal, yesterday refused to give the reasons for the decision, citing a heavy case load.

“After listening to the interrogation of the suspect and the statements made by the prosecutor and defence attorney, the council has decided to uphold the verdict of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court,” Sophal said in court.

Samnang, who was convicted for driving his tuk-tuk through a barricade and beating six security guards at a protest, is also serving an eight-year sentence on insurrection charges over the Freedom Park protests.

Ly Sochetra, Samnang’s defence attorney, said his client disagreed with the verdict and felt it was “unfair to him”.