The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has issued a second arrest warrant for opposition leader Sam Rainsy, who remains in self-imposed exile in Europe.

Signed by investigating judge Kor Vanny, the document, dated December 9, emerged yesterday and orders police to detain the Cambodia National Rescue Party president for missing a summons hearing on December 4, related to the case of imprisoned opposition Senator Hong Sok Hour.

Sok Hour, detained since August, faces 17 years in prison on forgery and incitement charges for presenting a “fake” version of a 1979 border treaty between Cambodia and Vietnam in a clip posted on Rainsy’s Facebook page.

Rainsy, who fled to Europe in November, stands accused as Sok Hour’s accomplice and faces the same prison term.

Two of Rainsy’s Facebook administrators, Satya Sambath, 25, and Chong Leang Ueng, 20, have also been implicated and are in hiding abroad along with Satya’s brother David Sambath, Sok Hour’s personal assistant.

Rainsy also faces an arrest warrant ordering him to serve a two-year prison term for defaming Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in 2008 and another defamation lawsuit recently brought by National Assembly President Heng Samrin.

The CNRP leader missed a summons hearing for the latter case on Monday.

“Their accusations are getting more and more – laughingly – far-fetched. It shows that the government is really afraid of me. I expect maybe a hundred more similar summons and arrest warrants to be issued against me,” Rainsy said yesterday via email.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHAUN TURTON