Cambodian court sentences Australian filmmaker to six years in prison for espionage

Prak Chan Thul

 

Australian filmmaker James Ricketson shouts inside a prison truck as he leaves the Municipal Court of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, August 31, 2018. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

 

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A Cambodian court sentenced an Australian filmmaker to six years in prison on Friday after finding him guilty of espionage for flying a drone over an opposition party’s political rally.

 

James Ricketson, 69, was arrested last June after he was photographed flying the drone above the rally organized by the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) and staged ahead of a communal election.

 

Ricketson was charged with espionage, although it remains unclear for whom he was spying. His family called the court sentence an “absolute tragedy”.

 

“The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to convict James Ricketson and sentences him to six years in prison for espionage and collecting information that is harmful to the nation between December 2010 and June 2017,” Judge Seng Leang said.

 

Ricketson, who has spent more than a year behind bars after his bail was denied, appeared in court wearing a pink prison uniform and holding a copy of the spy-triller book ‘The Faithful Spy’ by Alex Berenson.

 

Speaking in court after the verdict, Ricketson expressed disbelief. “Which country was I conducting espionage for?” he asked.

 

“James is almost 70 and is not in good health, our family is very scared about what will happen to him in there if things take a turn for the worst,” Ricketson’s family said in a statement following the verdict, referring to Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison where Ricketson has been jailed.

 

“James is not a spy. James loves Cambodia and the Cambodian people. He is a filmmaker and a humanitarian,” the family said.

 

During hearings that began last week the prosecution argued that Ricketson’s work had damaged Cambodia’s reputation on the world stage.

 

Ricketson has been visiting Cambodia for more than 20 years, producing documentaries about the country and its people.

 

Ricketson’s son, Jesse Ricketson, said the court’s decision was an “absolute tragedy.”

 

“It’s very difficult to imagine what the future holds now for my dad. I’m absolutely terrified for him,” he added.

 

Reuters was not immediately able to reach the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh for comment.

 

In a letter to Cambodia’s long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen last month, Ricketson apologized for statements to local media that were disrespectful to Hun Sen.

 

Ricketson’s arrest came amid a wider crackdown on freedom of expression by Hun Sen’s government and his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).

 

The CPP last month claimed victory following a controversial general election which was largely unopposed.

 

Rights groups said the July 29 vote was neither free nor fair given the absence of a significant challenger to Hun Sen, who has ruled for 33 years.

 

(Reporting by Prak Chan Thul in PHNOM PENH and Colin Packham in SYDNEY; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-31

8 minutes ago, webfact said:

appeared in court wearing a pink prison uniform and holding a copy of the spy-triller book ‘The Faithful Spy’ by Alex Berenson.

 

What he was trying to show holding a spying related book? stoking the silly and paranoiac fires of the Cambodians? it is without a doubt a trump up charge, but to who's benefits no one knows, hopefully the Aussie government will intervene on his behalf soon, that is if he's innocent...

When these highly unethical and corrupt cliques do inevitably crumble I hope the harshest of fates to befall those orchestrating such diabolical abuses right now.

The Aussie govt needs to grow a spine and condemn this in the strongest possible terms, but as Khmer money rolls in to Oz and they are cozy on diplomatic terms nothing will even be said.

 

This is a disgusting miscarriage of justice 

this is one of the stupidist things I have heard of while living in cambodia, talk about damaging Cambodia’s reputation on the world stage, pol pot sure had a big effect on the place by killing all the intelligent people, now the world can see just how stupid they really are. I hope sanctions are on the way

2 hours ago, phycokiller said:

this is one of the stupidist things I have heard of while living in cambodia, talk about damaging Cambodia’s reputation on the world stage, pol pot sure had a big effect on the place by killing all the intelligent people, now the world can see just how stupid they really are. I hope sanctions are on the way

 

Cambodia doesn't have a reputation to damage on the world stage. It is fast becoming a ' pariah state '

 

It lost all credibility in the rigged elections!

 

Stupid they are indeed, they killed all the smart ones!

Edited August 31, 20187 yr by Scouse123

3 hours ago, webfact said:

James loves Cambodia and the Cambodian people.

Time to rethink that.

3 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Time to rethink that.

Maybe not. he may love the Cambodian people but hate those in power who gave him such a harsh  sentence.

I empathize with horror he must feel from such a heavy handed reaction, but it was a really stupid thing he did.

..just got caught pushing it and now paying... 

Off-topic post reported and removed.  

 

I find it challenging to feel sorry for people like this. If he'd been in Cambodia as long as is reported and had no inkling that flying a drone over a political rally Hun Sen would undoubtedly disapprove of was not a good idea, he's an idiot. 

 

My bet is that he was trying to stir up cr@p and inflame / incite the passions of the opposition party supporters.

 

He lost because he never had a chance of winning.

 

I live in Laos. Everyone knows what the state of corruption is like here. Still, there is no way I'd stand around in front of the President's house with a sign proclaiming it. If I did, I'd end up in jail and deservedly so.

 

Nope, no support for his idiotic actions at all. he got what he deserved. As harsh as that is.

Too late to shout...