On June 26, the publisher, 55, was arrested by Phnom Penh police in cooperation with Battambang police at 12:30 pm in Chrey Koang village, Slaket commune, Battambang. He was sent back to Pry Sor prison in Phnom Penh after the judge Den Sivuthy had tried him the same day to 12 months in prison for disinformation; and asked pay 9 million riels as compensation.
On 11 August, 2009 his case was sent to appellate court due to the complaint by his lawyer, Mr. Chung Chu Ngy. The hearing was under the presidency of 3 judges; and the presence of prosecutor, government lawyer, Mr. Hang Chakra’s lawyer and himself, national and international observers from NGOs.
He was asked 3 needed questions in relation to two published articles about Sok An; and also to find out evidence to prove what he had written. However, he just asserted that the information was from the source, which could not be told in terms of the information ethics; and could find more evidence as needed by the government’s lawyer. In the end, the judge announced that his verdict was still kept as the first decision of Municipal Court. However, the decision made by the judge was seen as injustice, political issue and the way to put restriction on freedom of press. Then no one is able to criticize the government in terms of development.
On Tuesday, September 8, 2009 Mr. Hang Chakra wrote a letter to Sok An to seek his apology. Minister of Information and government spokesman Khiev Kagnarith said he had already delivered it the deputy prime minister. However, he said Hang Chakra had been already convicted, the letter alone did not guarantee the journalist’s release.
Before the letter, 7 journalist associates had been lobbying on Hang Chakra’s behalf in the expectation that he would be soon released.
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