Cambodian opposition leader faces new charges of conspiracy to forgery, incitement

Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy is facing the new charges of "conspiring to falsify public documents, use fake documents and incite chaos", according to a summons issued by Questioning Judge Kor Vandy on Friday.

The summons ordered Sam Rainsy, president of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), to appear at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Dec. 4, 2015 for an inquiry.

It warned that if he does not show up at the court on the schedule, an arrest warrant will be issued.

The summons came after Sam Rainsy had opposition senator Hong Sok Hour post a fake version of a Cambodia-Vietnam border treaty on his Facebook page in August this year.

Hong Sok Hour was arrested on Aug. 15 in Phnom Penh on the charges of falsifying public documents, using fake documents, and inciting chaos to social security. He could face up to 17 years in jail if convicted.

It is another blow to Sam Rainsy, who is currently in self-imposed exile to avoid a 2-year prison sentence over the charge of defamation.

On Monday, National Assembly President Heng Samrin said in a statement that Sam Rainsy had completely lost his "right, privilege and membership as a lawmaker" after the court last week issued an arrest warrant for him over the defamation conviction.

Sam Rainsy, who also holds French citizenship, returned to Cambodia ahead of the July 2013 national election after receiving a royal pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni. He had fled the country in 2009 to avoid an 11-year prison sentence over the charges of removing border poles and publishing a false map of the border with Vietnam. The pardon at that time was not included the defamation conviction.

In the 2013 election, his CNRP received 55 seats against 68 seats for the Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) in the 123-seat parliament. Enditem