A judge in Kandal province yesterday heard evidence against an opposition lawmaker-elect accused of helping someone escape from prison, despite the accused requesting a delay and having no lawyer present, a rights group said.

Cambodia National Rescue Party member Chan Cheng, along with opposition-aligned lawyer Choung Choungy, are accused of aiding the jailbreak of Meas Peng, a commune councillor, in 2011.

At the time, judge Sin Virak ordered Cheng be put under the supervision of the court but not jailed.

“I think it is political pressure, because it is an alleged crime that happened more than three years ago,” Cheng has previously said. He could not make it to the hearing, and had asked for a delay, said his lawyer, Long Lun.

But Men Makara, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, said judge Im Meng heard the case yesterday.

Meng could not be reached for comment. A verdict is due on August 5.