Adhoc's Prey Veng coordinator yesterday gave evidence at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in the case of four human rights workers accused of bribing Kem Sokha’s purported mistress.

Eang Kimly was questioned by the court for one hour in a closed-door session in which no lawyer was present, and afterwards refused to divulge the details of her interrogation.

“I cannot answer, because the case is being processed in court, but I answered every question the judge asked me,” Kimly said.

A court official, who requested to remain anonymous, said Kimly was brought in at the request of the defence to support the jailed activists’ case. The official was unsure if other defence witnesses would appear before the court.

Court spokesman Ly Sophana said: “The judge listened to her answers and questioned her over the charges being faced by the four Adhoc officials for bribing a witness.”

The four Adhoc staffers – Yi Soksan, Lim Mony, Ny Sokha and Nay Vanda – have been in pre-trial detention since May, after they were charged with asking acting CNRP president Kem Sokha’s purported mistress Khom Chandaraty to lie during testimony.

The four, who are being held at Prey Sar prison, allegedly offered Chandarathy $204 to deny the alleged affair. NEC official Ny Chakrya is being held in Phnom Penh’s Prison Judiciary jail as an accomplice.