Cambodia’s Appeal Court on Tuesday upheld the decision of a lower court to sentence a minor opposition leader to five years in prison for inciting soldiers to disobey orders, according to a verdict.
Sourn Serey Ratha, 44, president of the Khmer Power Party, was arrested on Aug. 13, a day after he posted to his Facebook criticizing Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s decision to send soldiers to confront with Lao troops in a disputed border area.
During military tensions between Cambodian and Laotian troops in early August, Ratha wrote on Facebook that the border dispute would only harm soldiers, while their commanders were safely happy with their money and mistresses.
On Aug. 25, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said Ratha’s comments had affected social security and security of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and sentenced him to five years in prison and fined him 2,500 U.S. dollars.
“The Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision against Sourn Serey Ratha is correct, so the Appeal Court decides to uphold the decision,” Appeal Court presiding judge Pol Sam Oeun pronounced the verdict after a two-hour hearing.
Ratha returned to Cambodia from self-imposed exile in the United Statesafter receiving a royal pardon in July 2015 for terrorism conviction.
