A court in Thailand switched charges against a Cambodian national from espionage to trespassing close to a military base in a hearing that was delayed for a second time, foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said yesterday.

Ung Kimthai, 46, appeared at court in Thailand’s Sisaket province yesterday to face charges of espionage and drug use following a delay in his first hearing on July 26.

Thai authorities have claimed they seized a map with military bases on it and photos taken near a base when they apprehended Ung Kimthai on June 7.

“Our lawyers and Kimthai himself continue to strongly reject this groundless accusation,” Koy Kuong said.

He said the court lacked sufficient evidence to try Ung Kimthai, and called the allegations against him a “bad trick and unacceptable”.

Vietnamese national Wieng Terng Yang and Suchat Muhammad, a Thai national, both of whom were arrested with Ung Kimthai, also appeared in court.