A local court fined an opposition leader about US$1.5mil (RM7mil) for defaming the ruling party by claiming democracy had regressed since Hun Manet took power last year.
In a February interview with foreign media, Candlelight Party leader Teav Vannol said the kingdom was “getting worse in terms of democracy” under the rule of Hun Manet.
Hun Manet took power in 2023 after his father Hun Sen stood down after nearly four decades of iron-fisted rule.
The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) election landslide that made Hun Manet premier was widely decried as a sham after main challenger the Candlelight Party was barred from participating.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday found Vannol “guilty of public defamation” and ordered him to pay six billion riels (around RM7mil) to the plaintiff, the CPP.
He was also ordered to pay 10 million riels (RM11,100) to the state.
Vannol lawyer, Choung Choungy, said he was disappointed by the ruling and that his client had merely been “expressing his opinion.”
He said they would discuss whether to appeal.
Hun Sen became senate president after stepping down as premier, taking over a key ceremonial role that allows him to act as acting head of state when the king is overseas. — AFP
