Cambodian opposition senator Hong Sok Hour denied bailed as trial for treason begins
Human Rights Watch and other international rights groups have called on authorities to drop the case against Hong Sok Hour, saying he had been wrongfully charged.
A Cambodian court rejected an opposition senator’s request for bail on Friday and opened a trial against him on charges that carry penalties of up to 17 years in prison for comments he posted on Facebook.
Hong Sok Hour, a senator from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, appeared in court in an orange prison uniform and opened the day’s proceedings with a plea for bail. He told the court he has high blood pressure and other medical conditions that require medication he was not getting in prison.
“I will not run away if you release me on bail,” said the senator, who has been held in pre-trial detention since his August 15 arrest.
Presiding judge Ros Piseth denied the request without giving a reason and opened the trial.
Human Rights Watch and other international rights groups have called on authorities to drop the case against Hong Sok Hour, saying he had been wrongfully charged and that prosecuting him marked the government’s latest crackdown on the political opposition.
Hong Sok Hour was arrested after Prime Minister Hun Sen accused him of treason for online comments that criticized a 36-year-old border agreement with Vietnam. He was indicted on three charges including falsifying public documents, using fake documents and inciting chaos. The charges carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison, up to five years and up to two years, respectively.