Live updates: Kem Sokha in Phnom Penh for bail hearing

Security outside the Appeal Court in Phnom Penh this morning. Hong Menea

12:19pm
That's all for our live updates for now. We will post any further news when we have it.

12:03pm

Meng Sopheary, a member of Sokha's defence team, told reporters outside court: "The Appeal Court decided to uphold the decision of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. This means that the Appeal Court doesn’t allow Kem Sokha to get bail.

"There are three points for requesting bail. First, it is his health. Second, if he is still in prison there will be no way to find a solution to [Cambodia's] political situation. And thirdly, he did not commit the crime."

Kem Sokha's lawyer Chhoung Choungy speaks to reporters outside the Appeal Court. Hong Menea

Sokha's lawyer Choung Choungy added: "The Appeal Court decoded not to release Kem Sokha and to keep him in prison. The reason is to protect his security. He did not commit the crime and has the support of millions of people, so there is no enemy for him."

11:35am

A convoy drives Kem Sokha from the Appeal Court after his request for bail was denied. This was as close as our reporters were allowed to stand.

11:30am

Kem Sokha's lawyer Chhoung Choungy confirms that his bail request has been denied. He has been driven from the Appeal Court. Updates to follow

A vehicle for Tbong Khmum police, the province in which Kem Sokha has been held since September, drives in convoy as the former opposition leader leaves the Appeal Court. Hong Menea

11:10am

Sokha's wife and mother have been escorted into the Appeal Court carrying food.

Sokha's daughter Samathida Kem, who is not in the country, posted this tweet:

#KemSokha’s mother carried by his lawyers to see him for the first time after 4 months pic.twitter.com/u7QjMQDvmD

— Samathida Kem (@SamathidaKem) February 1, 2018

9:57am

Sao Nget, Kem Sokha’s 92-year-old mother, is emotional outside the Appeal Court. “I want to meet my son. I want to go inside the court to meet my son,” she said.

Kem Sokha’s mother Sao Nget near the Appeal Court this morning. Hong Menea

9:32am

Sokha’s wife Te Chanmono and his chief of staff Muth Chantha outside court. Ananth Baliga

9:01am

Photographs posted to pro-government news site Fresh News appear to show Sokha in court this morning.

Credit: Fresh News

8:30am

UN observers are prevented from entering the barricades blocking off the entrance to the Appeal Court on Sothearos Boulevard. Ananth Baliga

Kem Sokha's lawyer Chuong Choungy walks into the Appeal Court for the morning hearing. Hong Menea

7:50am

A monk speaks to a police officer over a security barricade outside the Appeal Court this morning. Hong Menea

7:01am

Kem Sokha, the jailed former leader of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, has been brought to Phnom Penh Appeal Court for a bail hearing.

He was driven to the court at 5:40am escorted by a convoy of security vehicles.

Sothearos Boulevard is currently blocked around the entrance to both the Supreme Court and Appeal Court, but traffic is moving on Sisowath Quay. Around two dozen security officers are stationed by the courts on both roads.

Roadblocks and security by the Supreme Court this morning. Ananth Baliga

This is the first time that Sokha has left Trapaing Phlong prison in Tbong Khmum, where he has been jailed since his arrest during a midnight raid on his residence in Phnom Penh on September 3.

He has been provisionally charged for “treason” in relation to a 2013 video where he claimed to have received advice from the United States to plan his political trajectory.

We will post updates throughout the day here when we have them.

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