Battambang: A lawyer representing two journalists, who have been sentenced to 14 years for treason by the Siem Reap Provincial Courtroom final 12 months, requested the Battambang Enchantment Courtroom on March 13 to amend their costs to replicate a lesser offense.
Lawyer Un Chanthol argued that the costs ought to fall below Article 479, paragraph two of the Prison Code, reasonably than Article 445 (supplying data prejudicial to nationwide protection to overseas states) for which they have been convicted.
He stated Article 479, which issues intentional or unintentional revealing of nationwide defence secrets and techniques, was “extra acceptable” to their case. It states that the disclosure of nationwide protection secrets and techniques because of carelessness, negligence, recklessness or disobedience of orders, might end in imprisonment of six months to 2 years and a advantageous from a million to 4 million riel.
Chanthol’s request follows prosecutor Kong Khemarin deciding to take care of the unique costs following the interrogation of the journalists, in accordance with the decision of the Siem Reap Provincial Courtroom on December 17, 2025.
Khemarin stated that though the defendants denied wrongdoing, their statements throughout questioning indicated violations of the regulation.
The Siem Reap court docket sentenced Phon Sopheap from Battambang Publish and Pheap Pheara of TSP68 TV On-line to 14 years jail below Article 445 of the Prison Code for “supplying a overseas state with data prejudicial to nationwide defence” in Oddar Meanchey province and on social media platforms between July 25 and July 31, 2025.
The 2 journalists have been arrested individually on July 31, 2025, after getting back from reporting within the province.
It’s unclear which of their posts led to the costs. Nevertheless, the 2 journalists have been photographed with Cambodian troopers in entrance of Ta Krabey Temple after a ceasefire was declared following the Thailand-Cambodia battle in July.
Later, Thai media shops printed these photographs, claiming they confirmed unexploded landmines within the background.
Each Sopheap and Pheara filed an enchantment to the Battambang Enchantment Courtroom on December 22, 2025, in opposition to the Siem Reap Provincial Courtroom’s determination stating that they didn’t commit the acts as accused by the prosecution.
The enchantment listening to was additionally attended by the relations, journalist associations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic representatives.
Presiding choose Y Kheang questioned the 2 in regards to the proof discovered by authorities, asking them what authority did they need to entry frontline navy items, together with the Ampil District Navy Subdivision, Thma Don, and Ta Krabey Temple, the place help corresponding to cash, energy banks, instantaneous noodles, and bottled water have been delivered.
The choose stated the journalists impersonated humanitarian staff from “Her Excellency Mother’s Group” to achieve entry which resulted in data reaching Thailand regardless of strict navy prohibitions in opposition to unauthorized entry.
The choose additionally raised authorities’ findings that cellphone calls from overseas cellphone numbers have been made to Sopheap’s cellphone from June 11. Pheara posted a selfie in entrance of Ta Krabey Temple and in addition despatched images and messages to his brother who works in Thailand. The social media posting obtained a million views, and regardless of requests to take away them, they weren’t deleted.
In the course of the listening to, Pheara admitted to taking a selfie at Ta Krabey Temple and posting a bunch picture with 4 folks, together with troopers.
“One soldier there took the picture for us,” he stated.
Pheara defined that the aim of posting the picture was to tell the general public and encourage Cambodian troops, exhibiting that Ta Krabey Temple had not fallen below Thai management, and to spotlight the bravery of Cambodian troopers.
He stated his dialog along with his brother in Thailand occurred solely after his brother despatched him a screenshot exhibiting that the selfie was broadly shared in Thai media. He denied allegations of offering data to Thai residents or troopers.
“I’m Khmer. I’ll die on Khmer soil. I’d by no means give data to foreigners for cash. Even when they supplied me a million {dollars}, I’d refuse. I reside in Cambodia and love my nation,” Pheara stated.
Sopheap testified that they entered the realm solely after the ceasefire took impact at midnight on July 28, 2025. He stated they wore press identification playing cards and obtained permission from navy commanders earlier than getting into the areas to ship humanitarian assist to troopers.
Some images have been shared in a humanitarian Telegram group in Thma Puok district, the place a Cambodian member of that group, who lives in Thailand, allegedly reposted them to the general public area, Sopheap stated.
He added that they disabled the GPS location knowledge earlier than taking images, realizing that the Ministry of Nationwide Protection prohibited such data from being revealed.
In the course of the listening to, each denied offering data to foreigners and appealed to the court docket to drop the costs and launch them, as that they had no intention of committing the alleged crimes.
Lawyer Chanthol stated the legal parts below Article 445 weren’t met as his purchasers weren’t troopers, didn’t possess labeled data, and posted the images with good intention whereas performing their skilled duties as journalists.
“They’ve even obtained journalism coaching,” he advised the court docket, suggesting that any errors have been “minor negligence”. “If that they had actually bought data to foreigners, they might not be residing in poverty. You’ll be able to examine their financial institution accounts.”
The court docket is scheduled to announce its verdict at 8:30 a.m. on March 26, 2026.
Sopheap’s spouse Hong Tha requested the court docket to drop the costs in order that her husband may return house to the household.
She stated the household has confronted extreme monetary hardship since her husband’s imprisonment, as she should care for 3 kids and at present lives together with her in-laws in Banteay Meanchey province as a result of they don’t have their very own house.
Om Sarath, Pheara’s spouse, additionally referred to as for his launch, saying that he’s an trustworthy man and didn’t commit any crime.
“My husband didn’t give data to a overseas nation. If he had, he would have cash and financial savings. However I’ve by no means seen any cash from such work,” Sarath stated.
Nop Vy, government director of the Cambodian Journalists Alliance Affiliation (CamboJA), who was on the listening to, agreed with the protection lawyer’s request to amend the costs.
“We see the intention of the 2 journalists. They needed to guard nationwide pursuits, defend what is useful to our residents, and they didn’t show any malicious intent to commit any offense by offering data to overseas states.”
He stated primarily based on their statements and conduct in court docket, they demonstrated honesty, patriotism and used their position in good religion to forestall misunderstanding among the many public concerning the occupation of the temple space on the time.
“I too have a request [for the court]. Because the two journalists have petitioned the court docket, I ask that they be launched to be reunited with their households, who’re going through difficulties of their day by day lives.”
He expressed hope that the court docket on March 26 would enable the journalists to reside exterior jail and resume their work in journalism.
He additionally urged the authorities to use the Press Legislation as a substitute of the Prison Code on points involving journalists sooner or later.
“Because the lawyer acknowledged, the press regulation is essential [as it] ensures that nationwide pursuits and public pursuits proceed to obtain consideration by means of the success of journalists’ roles,” he stated.
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