The Supreme Court on Friday upheld convictions against four human rights officials and an election body staffer — who previously worked at the same rights group — in a case related to a love scandal involving opposition leader Kem Sokha.
Though a five-year political ban is set to end on Wednesday, former opposition officials will likely have little opportunity to make a difference in the upcoming election, the politicians as well as analysts say.
Judges in the Kem Sokha treason trial have agreed to a two-month break before finally heading into closing arguments in the already-prolonged trial against the former CNRP president.
The Kem Sokha treason trial is barrelling toward a verdict as judges announced an end to witness cross examinations and scheduled closing arguments, much to the consternation of the defense team.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court is holding back-to-back sessions of the Kem Sokha trial this week to get through witness cross examinations, a level of urgency not seen in the so-far sluggish trial.
A Phnom Penh court questioned one witness in the Kem Sokha treason trial on Wednesday, mostly focusing on any foreign assistance or direction on political decisions made by the former CNRP president.
CCHR’s Chak Sopheap will attend a hearing at Kem Sokha’s trial this week. Sixteen Vietnamese nationals arrested from a suspected Siem Reap compound were sent to court.
Judges in the Kem Sokha treason trial questioned the opposition leader over training given to the disbanded CNRP by a Serbian group, which the government has previously accused of fomenting color revolution in eastern Europe.
The trial against opposition leader Kem Sokha tried to link him to an alleged color revolution attempt in 2013 when party colleagues and supporters held lotuses at public demonstrations, and questioned him over the Taiwanese ruling party’s visit to his CNRP that year.
Judges in the Kem Sokha treason trial said they will start interrogating witnesses, marking a progression in a case that has been discussing evidence and facts since January 2020.
VOD is a local independent media outlet producing radio programs and disseminating information to the public via the Internet.
© 2019 VOD. All Rights Reserved.
