An appeal by two former RFA reporters to drop a reinvestigation of pornography charges against them has been rejected by a Cambodia’s Appeals Court in Phnom Penh on Monday, December 30, despite the earlier conclusion of a more than two-year probe.
Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin—who had worked as an editor, reporter and news anchor, and a photographer and videographer for RFA’s Khmer Service, respectively, also await the court’s decision on whether Cambodian authorities will proceed with a further investigation of their espionage charge.
The two were taken into custody in November 2017 and charged with “illegally collecting information for a foreign source” after RFA closed its bureau in the capital in September that year.
Production of pornography for distribution, sale or public display under Article 39 of the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, which carries a maximum prison term of one year in prison and a fine of 2 million riels (U.S. $490), was later added to the charges filed against them.
Speaking to RFA after the ruling, defense attorney Sam Chamroeun expressed disappointment over the decision, saying court investigators had already examined the charges against the two reporters and found no evidence to support them.
“This decision has undeniably affected the rights and freedom of my clients,” he added, calling it “unfair” that their case had “dragged on for so long.”
Sam Chamroeun said he will discuss with the two former journalists whether they would like to appeal the latest decision to the Supreme Court.
Yeang Sothearin told reporters outside the court on Monday that he is “frustrated and disappointed” with the decision.
“Why do they still want to investigate when they haven’t found anything [after all of this time],” he asked.
“Why won’t the [court]speed up the trial instead of dragging it on like this? I think they intend to mistreat us and want to ensure that we are forced to live in such a situation for as long as possible.”
Yeang Sothearin said that while he and Uon Chhin were released from pre-trial detention on bail in August, they cannot enjoy the freedoms of normal people.
“I don’t have full freedom because the case is still hanging over me, so I call on the court to complete it as soon as possible,” he said.
Am Sam Ath, deputy director of Cambodian rights group Licadho, told RFA that the court has no right to string along the case facing the two reporters without adequate evidence, noting that they have had their movement restricted and been barred from finding employment to support their families.
“Additionally, if this case [drags on], the international community … will continue to criticize and condemn Cambodia for continued abuses of freedom of the press,” he said.
Local and international rights groups have condemned the treatment of Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin in the courts as part of a wider attack on the media in Cambodia and called for their release.
RFA closed its nearly 20-year-old bureau in Phnom Penh on Sept. 12, 2017 amid a 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.
The move paved the way for Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) to sweep the ballot in national elections last year, effectively turning Cambodia into a one-party state.
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.
The arrest of Uong 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.
The two will hear whether the Appeal Court will accept their request to drop a reinvestigation of their espionage charges, which carry a jail sentence of seven to 15 years, on Jan. 20. (Source: RFA.org)