A prominent leader of Cambodia’s political opposition has been arrested for allegedly issuing worthless checks in a case his party said is politically motivated.
Thach Setha (pic), vice-president of the Candlelight Party, was detained on Monday and accused of issuing several bounced checks in 2019. He was sent to jail for pretrial detention under a law on payment transactions that provides penalties for irregular financial payments.
If convicted, Thach Setha could face two to five years in prison and a fine of up to US$12,250 (RM53,000).
The Candlelight Party is likely to be the biggest and most credible challenge to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party in a general election in July.
“For us, we believe that the case is politically motivated, not about the bouncing check,” Son Chhay, the party’s other vice president, said on Tuesday.
He said the Candlelight Party will contact the governing party about the case.
Son Chhay added, however, that his party will also talk to the people who filed the lawsuit against Thach Setha. He said if there was merit to it, his party will find a way to pay the money owed so that Thach Setha can be released.
A court document obtained on Tuesday by The Associated Press said the court had issued summonses last year for Thach Setha to appear before the investigating judge on Feb 28 and June 22, but that he failed to show up. It said the court consequently issued an order on Monday for Thach Setha to be taken into custody. It said it had received a lawsuit filed by a company accusing Thach Setha of issuing five bounced checks.
The Candlelight Party called on the government and court to immediately release Thach Setha without conditions and stop arresting and intimidating leaders and supporters of the party. — AP
