National Election Committee deputy secretary-general Ny Chakrya has appealed to his NEC colleagues to help secure his release from prison so he can resume working on organising the 2017 local and 2018 national ballots.

The former Adhoc staffer is one of six people – including four current employees of the rights group – locked up for allegedly conspiring to bribe the purported mistress of opposition leader Kem Sokha.

Speaking after visiting Chakrya at Prey Sar prison yesterday, NEC deputy president Kuoy Bunroeun said his colleague was concerned his absence was hindering the body’s work.

“His aim is to help with the tasks of the NEC, which is very busy preparing the elections, including preparing voter registration,” said Bunroeun, one of seven NEC officials who visited Chakrya yesterday.

According to Chakrya’s lawyer, Sam Sokong, Chakrya will appear at the Appeal Court on June 13 to seek bail. Sokong said his client’s position at the NEC was a strong argument for bail.