The defamation case against National Election Committee deputy secretary-general Ny Chakrya was postponed yesterday after the complainants failed to show up.

Chakrya arrived at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in an orange jumpsuit as he is currently being held in pre-trial detention over allegations he colluded with four Adhoc staffers to bribe CNRP acting president Kem Sokha’s alleged mistress.

He was to face accusations of defamation yesterday from Sok Keo Bandith and Ky Rithy, the former deputy prosecutor and serving investigative judge at Siem Reap Provincial Court, respectively. The duo claim remarks he made in press conferences last year accusing the pair of corruption and false imprisonment were defamatory.

However, neither Bandith nor Rithy were in court yesterday. Chakrya’s lawyer, Sam Sokong, said it is important his client be afforded the right to hear the complaints against him and requested the trial be delayed pending the pair’s attendance.

However, presiding judge Khy Chhai insisted on continuing. “If you want to postpone, the only way possible is to dismiss me as the trial judge,” he said.

Chakrya subsequently filed for Chhai’s dismissal.