Supreme Court Denies Release of Opposition Senator

The Supreme Court on Friday announced a decision to continue to hold opposition Senator Hong Sok Hour.

The aging senator has been detained since August 2015 on incitement and fraud charges related to allegedly posting false information about the Cambodian border on Facebook.

Prime Minister Hun Sen directly called for the arrest of Hong Sok Hour, who is suffering from high blood pressure, stomach ailments and fever while in prison.

He did not attend his hearing on Monday. Hong Sok Hour is awaiting trial and won’t be released, despite offering to post $5,000 in bail and to hand over both his Khmer and French passports.

Critics say he is being unjustly held in a political case between the ruling Cambodian People’s Party and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.

“It’s not much of a surprise,” said Am Sam Ath, technical coordinator for the rights group Licadho. “This is already the culture and it’s a political issue.”

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