RFA
17 Sep 2019, 07:42 GMT+10
The verdict in the trial of two former Radio Free Asia journalists charged with espionage and the production of pornography will be announced on Oct 3, Cambodia's Ministry of Justice and the reporters' lawyer, Sam Chamroeun, told RFA's Khmer Service on Monday.
The trial of Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin concluded on Aug. 9 and a verdict was expected on Aug. 30, but it was indefinitely delayed, with the judge saying he was busy in a workshop at the ministry of justice.
"I hope the news of upcoming verdict announcement on October 3rd will truly happen and we hope that the court will give true justice to both of us," Yeang Sothearin told RFA.
"Then our names will be cleared on that day and we will be freed," he added.
Cambodian Ministry of Justice spokesman Chin Malin also confirmed that the verdict would be announced on Oct. 3.
Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin were taken into custody in November 2017 and charged with "illegally collecting information for a foreign source" under Article 445 of the Criminal Code. They have since had production of pornography added to the charges against them and face a prison term of from seven to 15 years.
Both journalists have maintained that they are innocent of the charges against them, and say they will be vindicated through the courts, while local and international rights groups have condemned their arrests as part of a wider attack on the media in Cambodia and called for their release.
Am Sam Ath of the local human rights group Licadho said all criminal cases should feature a speedy trial and verdict. He urged the court to issue a verdict without delay and drop charges against two former journalists, who he said were innocent.
"In order to promote press freedom, I hope that the municipal court will announce the verdict on Oct. 3 and drop charges against them so they can perform their professional duties," he said.
RFA closed its nearly 20-year-old bureau in Phnom Penh on Sept. 12, 2017 amid the crackdown by Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) that also saw the Supreme Court dissolve the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) a month later, paving the way for the CPP to sweep the ballot last year.
The arrest of Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin came after a warning from Cambodia's Ministries of Information and Interior that any journalists still working for RFA after its office in the capital closed would be treated as spies.
They were released on bail in August last year, but were placed under court supervision, which barred them from changing their addresses or traveling abroad, and required them to check in with their local police station once a month.
Cambodian journalists working for RFA had reported over the years on corruption, illegal logging, and forced evictions, among other stories largely ignored by pro-government media, and authorities had already closed independent radio stations carrying RFA reports, using a pretext of tax and administrative violations.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders ranked Cambodia 142nd out of 180 countries in its 2018 World Press Freedom Index, down from 132nd in 2017, citing the crackdown on independent media in the lead up to last year's election.
Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Vannarith Im. Written in English by Paul Eckert.
Copyright © 1998-2018, RFA. Published with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Malaysia Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Malaysia Sun.
More InformationA Chinese government survey ship was intercepted "running dark" without broadcasting its position via AIS (Automated Identification System) by Indonesian ...
BANGALORE, India - Following an earlier report of 36 units of the Nissan Magnite being delivered on a single day ...
Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], January 18 (ANI): Pakistan on Sunday violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in ...
Galle [Sri Lanka], January 17 (ANI): Sri Lanka displayed a brilliant performance with the bat on day 4 of the ...
A stronger U.S. dollar is proving to be an early test for emerging-market currencies on the eve of Joe Biden's ...
Washington [US], January 17 (ANI): US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will resign from her Senate seat on Monday, ahead of ...
A U.S. businessman, a giant in the pharmaceutical industry, is to be jailed for eighteen years and will have to ...
DUBLIN, Ireland - A major increase in the export of medical and pharmaceutical products has boosted Ireland's balance of trade. ...
BANGALORE, India - Following an earlier report of 36 units of the Nissan Magnite being delivered on a single day ...
NEW YORK, New York - Wall Street ended the week on a negative note Friday with all the major indices ...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday (local time) announced a USD 1.9 trillion plan to revive the ...
SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Stocks were mixed on Friday despite U.S. President-elect Joe Biden announcing a $1.9 trillion stimulus package ...