Rights group workers Lim Mony, Ny Sokha, Yi Soksan and Nay Vanda have been in jail since April 2016, and have been charged with bribery of a witness in connection to an alleged opposition sex scandal, a case widely considered to be politically motivated.
Cambodian law sets a limit of six months on pre-trial detention, but allows for up to two six-month extensions.
Appeal Court Judge Ngoun Ratana yesterday upheld the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision to continue the group’s incarceration, according to defence lawyer Lor Chunthy, who spoke after a three-hour closed-door session. The judge said he “feared the accused may destroy evidence and threaten witnesses”, said Chunthy, who criticised the lack of progress in the case.
Former Adhoc staffer-turned-election official Ny Chakrya was also detained in the case as an accomplice but opted not to appeal the extension as he felt such a move would be futile, said his lawyer Sam Sokong.
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