Cambodia's Appeal Court denies bail for former opposition leader in treason case

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Appeal Court of Cambodia on Thursday rejected an application for bail for jailed former opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was arrested in September last year on the charges of treason, his defense lawyer said.

"The Appeal Court's Judge (Phou Povsun) decided not to release Kem Sokha on bail," Chuong Choungy, a lawyer for Kem Sokha, told reporters after the three-hour closed-door hearing.

"The judge said that the continued detention of Kem Sokha was vital to ensure legal procedures and to ensure his safety," he said.

Kem Sokha, president of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was taken to the court at around 5:30 a.m. local time, escorted by a convoy of security vehicles.

It was the first time that he had been allowed to appear in court since he was arrested and had been jailed in the Trapaing Thlong Prison in eastern Tboung Khmum province.

During the bail hearing, heavy security forces had been deployed around the courthouse, which was fortified by metal barricades to prevent any disruption to the court proceeding.

Sokha, 64, was arrested on Sept. 3 in 2017 and charged with treason for conspiring with a foreign power in an attempt to overthrow the government. He could face an imprisonment between 15 and 30 years if convicted.

On Nov. 16 last year, his CNRP was dissolved by the Supreme Court and 118 senior party members were banned from joining politics for five years. Enditem