The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has summonsed ex-unionist Chea Mony for the second time in an “incitement” case against him after he had failed to show up for the first questioning.

Mony did not show up for his first summons on Tuesday, and the second summons was issued the same day. The former Free Trade Union leader is being sued by 120 pro-government union representatives after allegedly calling on the United States and European Union to consider economic sanctions in response to the government's recent crackdown on the opposition. The remarks were made during a Radio Free Asia interview.

“We, Sieng Sok – representative of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court – invite suspect Chea Mony ... to come to the Phnom Penh prosecutor on 9 February at 9am for questioning,” the summons reads. “The person must come, complying with the warrant, with the documents related to the case.”

Mony could not be reached today and is reportedly abroad.

Incitement to commit a felony carries a prison sentence of six months to two years, whereas incitement to discriminate carries a jail term of up to three years.

Neither the complaint nor the summons letter specifies which incitement Mony is alleged to have committed.