Australian filmmaker James Ricketson tells a Cambodian court he is not a ‘spy’

[geovalin]

A CAMBODIAN court has heard that an Australian filmmaker facing espionage charges “helps the poor” and is “not involved” in politics.

AN Australian filmmaker in Cambodia facing a possible five to 10 years in prison on a charge of endangering national security testified on Monday that he wants to buy land to resettle poor local families.

James Ricketson, 69, was arrested in June last year for flying a camera-equipped drone over a political rally held by the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.

The party was dissolved as part of a sweeping crackdown on the opposition and media critical of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government, ahead of last month’s general election, in which the ruling party won all 125 National Assembly seats.

 

read more https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/australian-filmmaker-james-ricketson-tells-a-cambodian-court-he-is-not-a-spy/news-story/777fef1314b171ae066eabbc728c00ac

[Trouble]

Why do western governments even do any business with this regime in Cambodia?