A prominent Cambodian opposition politician with Australian citizenship was convicted of defamation on Friday for criticizing local elections in which strong leader Hun Sen’s party won a landslide victory.
Son Chhay – deputy leader of the Candlelight Party – claimed the National Electoral Committee was biased in favor of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
He also claimed there had been instances of vote-buying and voter intimidation.
Both organizations denied the allegations and filed separate defamation cases against Son Chhay, a longtime ally of exiled opposition figure Sam Rainsy.
Phnom Penh City Court on Friday found him guilty of defamation charges and ordered him to pay the ruling party $750,000 in damages and a $4,250 fine to the state.
Government critics say the sentencing is an attempt to discredit Son Chhay ahead of next year’s national election.
Son Chhay’s lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy, told reporters he would appeal.
“I see the case as politically motivated, (they want) to stop it,” he said.
After Friday morning’s hearing, Son Chhay said he wanted to improve the electoral system.
“Stop intimidating, stop threatening, do not buy votes and do not interfere with the work of political parties that are not in government,” he told reporters, referring to the Cambodian authorities.
In local elections in June, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s party won a landslide victory with around 80 percent of the seats.
The Candlelight Party, which claimed the elections were not free and fair, gained some traction with 18 percent of the poll.
Hun Sen, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has ruled Cambodia for more than 37 years and has vowed to run for office again next year.
In 2018, his party won all the seats in a national election.
Critics and rights groups say he has ruthlessly crushed dissent by jailing opponents and activists before every election.
Australian Ambassador to Cambodia Pablo Kang said diplomats attended Friday’s hearing.
“I am disappointed that earlier this year he was found guilty of defamation in relation to media comments. We continue to demand true + free political participation in the elections ahead of the 2023 elections,” Kang tweeted.
