The Phnom Penh Municipal Court released Kung Raiya on bail on Friday ahead of his trial for incitement to commit a felony on December 20.

Raiya's lawyer Sam Sokong told The Post on Sunday that he would request the court to drop the charge.

Sokong said the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's Judge Ouk Reth Kunthea announced the release of his client on conditional bail on Friday after the hearing on November 14.

He said he was pleased that the court had given his client bail as he was not guilty of the charges. The conditions set by the court mean Raiya has to appear in court on December 20, while he cannot go abroad, change his address or post messages regarding the case on Facebook.

“I am hopeful the court will drop the charge because I have studied his case and there is evidence that he has not committed a crime,” Sokong said.

He said a previous request with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for bail had been denied. Further bail applications at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court had also been rejected.

Raiya was arrested on July 11 after printing T-shirts featuring an image of slain political analyst Kem Ley.

He was charged with incitement for calling on the public to buy the T-shirts before the third anniversary of Ley’s murder on July 10.

Raiya's wife Sok Sreynich said on Sunday that she was delighted that the court had released her husband on bail after months in prison. Raiya not being at home had made it difficult to support their one-year-old daughter, she said.

“I hope that the court will drop the charges against my husband on December 20 because he is not guilty of anything,” Sreynich said.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Y Rin could not be reached for comment on Sunday.