A former personal adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen who now supports the opposition has warned acting CNRP president Kem Sokha he faces impending arrest, saying his “time is short”.

So Naro, who also used to edit a newspaper and now lives in the US, weighed in on the unfolding political crisis in a video clip recently posted on his Facebook account.

Naro said he believed the prime minister was attempting to eliminate Sokha using the Anti-Corruption Unit, headed by another of the premier’s former advisers, Om Yentieng.

“Om Yentieng is very busy . . . pursuing this case against Mr Kem Sokha,” Naro said.

“So the time of freedom for Mr Kem Sokha may be running out . . . They will move to detain [him] at any time.”

In recent weeks, the ACU has launched a slew of probes into an alleged affair between Sokha and 24-year-old hairdresser Khom Chandaraty, who initially denied the relationship.

After being threatened with prostitution charges, Chandaraty, also known as Srey Mom, admitted to being the opposition leader’s mistress, and, in turn, implicated several members of civil society and an opposition commune councillor, who have all since been charged.

Speaking to supporters in Svay Rieng on Sunday, Sokha, who has not responded directly to the scandal, said that although a “big storm” was hitting the CNRP, he would not abandon them.