Cambodia jails opposition lawmaker for fake border map Facebook posts
Xinhua, October 10, 2016 Adjust font size:
A Cambodian court sentenced opposition lawmaker Um Sam An on Monday to two and a half years in prison for posting messages on Facebook accusing the Cambodian government of using fake border map with Vietnam.
Um Sam An, 40, lawmaker for the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested on April 10 after returning from months in exile in the United States. He was charged with two counts: incitement to commit crimes causing turmoil for social security and incitement to discrimination.
"The court found that Um Sam An has intention to cause severe chaos to social security and to incite racial discrimination," said the verdict read by Phnom Penh Municipal Court presiding judge Heng Sokna.
He said the court decided to sentence him to two and a half years in prison with a fine of 1,000 U.S. dollars.
In August last year, opposition Senator Hong Sok Hour was also caught red-handed for posting a fake version of a Cambodia-Vietnam border treaty on a Facebook page.
He was charged with falsifying public document, using the fake document, and inciting chaos to social security, which could carry a maximum jail term of 17 years if convicted.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has said that their arrests were to prevent social chaos because they aimed to mislead public opinions for political gain. Endit