Australian filmmaker James Ricketson accused of drone ‘spying’ denied bail by Cambodia’s Supreme Court
The family of the 68-year-old say they are worried about his health and the cramped prison conditions
An Australian filmmaker detained last year on spying charges after he flew a drone over an opposition rally was denied bail on Tuesday.
James Ricketson, 68, was arrested in the capital Phnom Penh in June after he was pictured flying the drone over a campaign rally by the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
The party was dissolved several months later in a controversial court verdict that capped a years-long crackdown on the opposition under strongman premier Hun Sen.
Supreme Court Judge Soeng Panhavuth said during a brief hearing on Tuesday that Ricketson’s bail request had been rejected because “the investigation is still underway”.
Ricketson has been charged “with acts of collecting information which may undermine national defence”.
