Thun Saray, president of rights group Adhoc, failed to appear in court yesterday to answer questions related to a bribery case against four of his staffers and an election official.

Saray was the third Adhoc official summonsed to testify in the case, which is connected to the quintet’s alleged connection to an ongoing “prostitution” investigation around CNRP acting president Kem Sokha.

Chhan Sokunthea, head of the women’s and children’s rights section, and the group’s Prey Veng coordinator Eang Kimly appeared in August and July, respectively.

A staffer at the Adhoc office yesterday said that Saray was “on mission” in Canada, directing further inquires to the arrested group’s lawyer, Keo Sophal. But contacted yesterday, Sophal said he was not representing Saray because he was the lawyer for the four jailed Adhoc staffers.

“I cannot defend him because I am defending the suspects in the case,” Sophal said. “All I know is that he is abroad.”

Court spokesman Ly Sophanna would only say that the investigation would continue despite Saray’s failure to appear before the court.

Adhoc staffers Lim Mony, Yi Soksan, Ny Sokha and Nay Vanda and National Election Committee official Ny Chakrya stand accused of conspiring to pay Sokha’s alleged mistress Khom Chandaraty to lie to authorities about their relationship. They are still awaiting a trial date.