Cambodian journalist charged with incitement over Facebook posts

Battambang Provincial Court yesterday charged and detained a local journalist accused of inciting a felony or causing social unrest by writing a Facebook post asking the international community to take action against Prime Minister Hun Sen and to cut off all aid to Cambodia. Colonel Duong Kimsuon, Battambang city military police deputy commander, identified the accused as Kouv Piseth, 32, a journalist working with a local newspaper living in Battambang province’s Battambang city, in Prek Preah Sdech commune.

Col Kimsuon told Khmer Times yesterday that Piseth was charged with “incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest” under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. He faces six months to two years in prison and a fine from $250 to $1,000 if convicted.

Piseth was arrested on Wednesday at his home after he wrote the Facebook post on his personal account, badly criticising the government’s activities in preventing the outbreak of Covid-19 and also urged the international community to take action against Prime Minister Hun Sen and to cut off all aid for Cambodia, Col Kimsuon said.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50894645/local-journalist-charged-with-incitement-over-facebook-posts/