One of five garment workers facing charges after a clash with security forces and other workers at a Kampong Cham footwear factory last month was hospitalised after fainting in prison.

Overcome with the shock of Kampong Cham Provincial Court charging him on Wednesday with intentional violence and intentional damage for his alleged role in the melee at Juhui Footwear on October 25, Kang Savuth fainted on Saturday night, said Oeun Ry, his grandfather.

“He lost consciousness and the prison guards sent him to the hospital,” Ry said yesterday.

The incident occurred the night before about 250 unionists marched to the provincial court yesterday to file a petition for the defendants’ release.

“Workers stood in front of the court from morning until 2pm, but no court official accepted the petition,” C.CAWDU legal adviser Buth Bunchhean said.