Kem Sokha's pre-trial detention extended by six months

Niem Chheng | Publication date 05 March 2018 | 17:49 ICT

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Jailed opposition leader Kem Sokha appears at the Appeal Court last month for a bail hearing. Sokha's pre-trial detention on accusations of "treason" was extended today. Fresh News

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court today extended the pre-trial detention of jailed opposition leader Kem Sokha by another six months, empowering officials to hold him in a Tbong Khmum provincial prison until after the critical July national elections.

Meng Sopheary, Sokha’s lawyer, confirmed that investigating judge Ky Rithy extended the former Cambodia National Rescue Party president’s detention, saying he needed more time to complete the investigation into Sokha’s alleged “treason” charges.

“The investigative judge decided to extend the detention for another six months," Sopheary said. "The reason he gave was the investigation was not completed."

She added that the defence continued unsuccessfully to seek his release, citing Sokha’s health problems. In February, the defence team said Sokha had a pinched blood vessel and other ailments that needed treatment in Singapore.

Sokha was arrested in a midnight raid on September 3 and provisionally charged with “treason”, and his Cambodia National Rescue Party was summarily dissolved in November by the Supreme Court for allegedly plotting a purported "revolution". Officials have offered little evidence to substantiate the accusations beyond a years-old video of Sokha telling an audience of supporters in Australia that he received advice on his political career from the US.

Today’s hearing was conducted by the judge and prosecutor Seang Sok at the remote border prison. Sokha has remained at the prison since September, with the exception of a bail hearing last month at the Appeal Court in Phnom Penh, which was rejected.