"Land activist tried in absentia on decade-old incitement charge", 15 July 2020

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court … heard the case of a land rights activist charged with incitement for her involvement in a long-running dispute in Kampong Chhnang province, although she did not attend the trial for fear of arrest…

Sophy, 41, said by telephone on the day of her hearing that the provincial court had issued an arrest warrant for her after charging her with incitement in August 2008. She said she had traveled to Phnom Penh with plans to attend the trial, but became too concerned over the risk of arrest.

“As we know, Cambodia’s court system will find no justice for a poor person,” Sophy said. “Secondly, I am afraid of [police] arresting me.”

…, about 30 villagers rallied in front of the municipal court to show support for those on trial as Ly took the stand in the courtroom, saying she was not involved in inciting villagers to cultivate the disputed land.

“I did not commit the crime,” she said. “Please, I ask the court officials to drop the charges,” she said, adding that she was not present in 2008 when rice was planted on the disputed land in 2008.

Che Song, a deputy prosecutor at the municipal court and Phat Pouv Seang, the attorney for KDC, both asked that the judge find the defendants guilty…

Sam Sokong, defense lawyer for Sophy, asked the court during the … hearing to acquit his client.

“My client Oum Sophy did not join in planting paddy rice that day because she was busy teaching her students at the school,” he said…