Cambodian court sentences protester to 3 years in jail, with 2 years suspended

[geovalin]

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian court on Friday convicted a protester, who is among the six arrested in a September clash at an overpass, of causing intentional violence and damage to public property, and sentenced him to three years in jail, with a two-year probation, according to a verdict read by presiding Judge Seng Neang.
Authorities arrested the six men at the overpass at the night of Sept. 15 during a clash between security forces and pro- opposition supporters that left one protester dead. Later, the court had granted bail to five detainees, except 20-year-old suspect Nguyen Thydoc.
For the remaining five suspects, three men were acquitted of all the charges as two men were given a three-year suspended jail term, meaning that they were also freed.
Am Sam Ath, a senior investigator for the rights group Licadho, expressed regret for the verdict, saying the court should drop all charges against all of them since evidence was not concrete enough for the charges.
Many protests have been held in Cambodia's capital by Sam Rainsy's opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party and its aligned trade unions after the contested election last July that handed victory to Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.
So far, the opposition still continue boycotting parliament and demanding an early election, which was refused by the ruling party.
Last round of deadly clashes between police and protesters occurred in early January, leaving four protesters dead and 21 protesters still detained.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-02/28/c_133150440.htm