Sam Rainsy handed jail time in defamation case against PM

Former CNRP president Sam Rainsy was slapped with yet another conviction this morning after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found him guilty of incitement and defamation for alleging last year that political commentator Kem Ley’s death was “state-backed terrorism”.

The conviction, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the grenade attack on a rally led by Rainsy, was handed down by judge Y Thavrak, who sentenced Rainsy to one year and eight months in prison along with a 10 million riel fine (about $2,500). Rainsy will also have to pay a symbolic punitive fine of 100 riel to Hun Sen.

“Sam Rainsy is convicted to 20 months and fined 10 million riel for defamation in public and incitement to cause social disorder,” said court spokesman Ly Sophanna, after the ruling.

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