The daughter of imprisoned opposition official Meach Sovannara has written an open letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen accusing him of exercising complete control over the justice system, while suggesting her father’s continued incarceration might have karmic consequences for the premier’s family.

Last summer, Sovannara was sentenced to 20 years in prison on the charge of “leading an insurrection” for his alleged part in a 2014 Freedom Park protest, during which clashes between demonstrators and security personnel left 45 people injured.

In her letter, sent on Valentine’s Day, Sochiata Sovannara accuses Hun Sen of having “known all along” that her father was innocent of any wrongdoing.

While not explicitly asking for her father’s release, Sochiata cautions the premier, “Sir, we don’t want any bad karma to happen to you and your family. What goes around comes around. We fear that it might come true for you. In Cambodia, you are the court and the final judgment.”

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said yesterday that while he had not seen the letter, he was “not interested” in it. “We do not solve [cases] according to feelings . . . She should ask her father why a court made this judgment.”

Meach Sovannara’s laywer, Ket Khy, said his case is due before the Appeal Court on March 17.