Four witnesses appeared at Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday to testify on behalf of 13 of the 23 men detained in Kampong Cham’s Correctional Centre 3 since crackdowns on striking garment workers at the beginning of this month, a lawyer representing the 13 said.

Ham Sunrith, a lawyer from the Community Legal Education Center (CLEC) who is defending union leader Vorn Pov, president of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), and 12 others arrested on January 2 at the Yakjin garment factory, said he had brought the four witnesses to court.

“They came to clarify to the investigating judge to find the truth about the violence that took place at Yakjin factory,” he said.

The men have all been accused of using intentional violence during the clash between protesters and an elite paratrooper unit.

Sunrith declined to name the witnesses but said they work for civil society organisations and were questioned by investigating judge Sem Sakola for three hours.

Sakola could not be reached for comment.