Cambodia court fines exiled Opposition leader $ 1 million
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Phnom Penh, Dec. 29: A court in Cambodia on Friday ordered an exiled Opposition leader to pay $ 1 million for defaming Prime Minister Hun Sen in a Facebook post.
The Phnom Penh municipal court found Sam Rainsy guilty of defamation in the latest case against him brought by Hun Sen and his ruling party. Sam Rainsy has been in self- imposed exile since late 2015 to avoid a two- year prison sentence also on charges of criminal defamation.
The conviction comes amid an intense push by Mr Sen’s government to neutralise political opponents and silence critics ahead of an election next year. The Supreme Court last month ordered Mr Rainsy’s party, the country’s only legitimate Opposition, to be dissolved on the grounds that it was plotting to overthrow the government. Kem Sokha, who took over the party, has been detained on treason charges.
The government has also intensified restrictions on civil society groups and independent media outlets. The campaign, which means Hun Sen will face no serious challengers in the election, has prompted international condemnation. The latest case against Sam Rainsy stems from a Facebook post in January in which he accused Hun Sen of offering $ 1 million to a political operative to attack the Opposition. Hun Sen filed a defamation case and demanded $ 1 million in compensation.