Cambodian court charges two "Black Monday" campaigners with "inciting to commit crimes"

A Cambodian court on Wednesday charged two social activists with "inciting to commit crimes" after they led a government-banned "Black Monday" protest, a court spokesman said.

Tep Vanny and her colleague Bov Sophea were arrested on Monday evening as local authorities broke up a "Black Monday" protest in Phnom Penh's Boeung Kak village.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor and spokesman Ly Sophanna said that the duo were charged on Wednesday morning with "inciting to commit crimes" under the Article 495 of the Criminal Code and a trial hearing for them was held on the same day in the afternoon.

"The presiding judge (Pich Vicheathor) decided to place the two accused persons in a detention, awaiting the resumption of the hearing on Monday morning, Aug. 22, 2016," he told reporters.

Under the charge, the two women could be imprisoned between six months and two years if convicted.

The "Black Monday" campaign was launched 14 weeks ago by a handful of non-governmental organizations to call for the release of four officers at local rights group Adhoc and an election official who were jailed in a sex scandal involving deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha.

The government considers the campaign as a provocative move to create social chaos. Enditem