The Phnom Penh Municipal Court of Appeal on May 26 delivered a verdict in the case of National Heart Party founder Siem Phluk, upholding the lower court’s decision not to release him on bail.

Defence lawyer Choung Choungy told The Post that Appeal Court Judge Khun Leang Meng denied bail to his client following the May 18 hearing on the grounds that doing so may affect court proceedings.

“The court decided to hold him in prison. I will meet with Phluk in prison to provide him with legal counsel. He has the right to file a grievance with the Supreme Court. If he so desires, I will file it for him,” he said.

According to the case file, on November 16 last year the Ministry of Interior refused to register the party and accused it of forging thumbprints with bad intent.

Phluk was sent to Prey Sar prison following his arrest on the municipal court’s order issued in April of this year.

According to the arrest warrant signed by Judge Li Sokha and seen by The Post on May 26, the municipal court charged Phluk, 52, with “forgery and the use of forged documents” for incidents that took place in the capital in 2021. The offences were punishable under articles 626, 627 and 628 of the Criminal Code.