"Highest Court Upholds Unionist Vorn Pao’s 2014 Conviction", 9 September 2024

The Supreme Court upheld the decision of a lower court … in a case dating back to 2014 which convicted 10 people after a nationwide garment workers’ strike to demand higher minimum wage.

Presiding Judge Nil Non who read out the verdict, dismissed the appeal filed by Vorn Pao, president of Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), noting that the lower court decided the matter correctly.

It follows Phnom Penh Court of Appeal’s … ruling which upheld the decision by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court …, which convicted 10 persons for instigating violence with aggravating circumstances. They were sentenced to four years and six months, but the sentence was suspended.

Following that, Pao filed an appeal against the matter to the Appeals Court, and later the Supreme Court…

One of his lawyers, Son Chum Choun, expressed disappointment after the highest court rejected his client‘s appeal.

“As his lawyers, we are saddened by the Supreme Court’s decision because based on the filed case, he should not be sentenced,” he said.

… NGO rights group Licadho operations director Am Sam Ath echoed defense lawyer Chum Choun in saying that Vorn Pao was “victimized” and “seriously injured” after he was allegedly beaten up during arrest. He said there was “no justice, instead the court upheld the guilty verdict”.

“This is a message to intimidate activists who have defended the rights of workers or labor rights,” he said…