Kem Sokha greets his supporters as he leaves the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 25. Hong Menea
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to postpone the treason trial for former opposition leader Kem Sokha until February 16 after one of the four government lawyers tested positive for Covid-19.
The hearing was originally scheduled for February 9.
According to their February 7 letter requesting the postponement , the lawyer underwent a medical examination on February 5 and was found to be positive. As all four of the government lawyers had met regularly up until then, the three remaining lawyers were deemed at risk and are now undergoing self-isolation.
A municipal court judge issued a notice consenting to the postponement on February 8.
Meng Sopheary, one of Sokha’s lawyers, wrote on her Facebook account on February 8: “It is unfortunate that the trial could not continue this week. Once a week is too slow, and now it’s even slower.”
Ang Udom, another of the defence lawyers, told The Post on February 9 that the postponement had a negative effect and further delayed the trial. Hearings are held on just one morning per week.
During the February 2 hearing – the 29th so far – Sokha’s lawyers played six of 18 video clips which they claimed clarified the statements he made during a demonstration by opposition activists and his participation in a protest by workers who were demanding wages.
Municipal Court spokesman Plang Sophal did not comment when asked by The Post about the reason for the delay.
Ky Tech, a lawyer representing the government, declined to comment, referring The Post to the court’s letter.
Sokha, former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, was arrested in September 2017 at his home in Boeung Kak II commune of Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district and then remanded in custody at Tbong Khmum provincial prison, charged with “conspiring with a foreign power” to overthrow the government.
He was released on bail in November 2019, but was placed under judicial supervision with strict conditions. According to the restrictions, Sokha may not leave the territory of Cambodia, may not engage in any kind of political activity and must respond to all summons.
