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Battambang: The Battambang Attraction Courtroom on March 26 upheld the decision by Siem Reap Provincial Courtroom of two journalists, Phon Sopheap and Pheap Pheara, who have been sentenced to 14 years in jail on December 17, 2025.
Decide Y Kheang stated the defendants are allowed to file an attraction to the Supreme Courtroom inside a month in accordance with the legislation.
The journalists, who’re serving time in Siem Reap provincial jail, weren’t delivered to court docket to listen to the decision. No purpose was given. Their wives, relations and lawyer have been additionally not current.
The appellate court docket choice follows appeals filed by Sopheap and Pheara on December 22 and 23, 2025, respectively, after their conviction by the decrease court docket underneath Article 445 of the Felony Code for “supplying a international state with info prejudicial to nationwide defence.” They’re stated to have dedicated the offence in Oddar Meanchey province and on Fb from July 25 to July 31, 2025.
Their lawyer Un Chanthol stated he would file a petition to the Supreme Courtroom to problem the Attraction Courtroom’s choice.
“We now have already raised the arguments, so the subsequent step is to proceed to the Supreme Courtroom in accordance with authorized procedures,” he stated. “We are going to seek the advice of with their households whether or not to proceed. In the event that they agree, we are going to comply with the authorized course of as quickly as attainable.”
Through the appellate court docket listening to on March 13, Chanthol requested their cost be amended from Article 445 to Article 479 of the Felony Code because it considerations intentional or unintentional revealing of nationwide defence secrets and techniques which he stated was “extra acceptable” to their case.
Article 479 stipulates the disclosure of nationwide defence secrets and techniques because of carelessness, negligence, recklessness or disobedience of orders, and will lead to six months to 2 years jail and a advantageous of 1 million to 4 million riel if discovered responsible.
Each journalists denied committing the offence they have been charged with. They have been arrested individually on July 31, 2025, after coming back from reporting in Oddar Meanchey.
Whereas it’s unclear what led to their legal cost, each journalists had taken an image with Cambodian troopers in entrance of Ta Krabey Temple after a ceasefire was declared following the Thailand-Cambodia battle in July. Later, Thai media retailers revealed these photographs, claiming they confirmed unexploded landmines within the background.
Sopheap’s spouse, Hong Tha, stated she was dumbfounded after studying concerning the verdict, including that she would ask the lawyer to file an attraction to the Supreme Courtroom so her husband may very well be launched to reunite along with his household.
“I used to be working after I heard the information. I misplaced my urge for food,” she stated.
In Kongchet, Battambang provincial coordinator for rights group Licadho, who attended the listening to, stated the ruling imposed a heavy sentence on the journalists.
“They don’t seem to have dedicated the offense which they’ve been charged with. The court docket ought to drop the cost and restore their freedom,” he stated.
Nop Vy, government director of Cambodian Journalists Alliance Affiliation (CamboJA), stated the 14-year sentence was extreme and harsh, suggesting the court docket didn’t adequately contemplate their case.
“From what I noticed through the listening to, the 2 journalists seem to don’t have any intention of serving a international state or revealing navy secrets and techniques,” Vy shared.
As a substitute, he stated, it appeared they have been offering common info to the general public as the situation of the temple is underneath Cambodian navy management, which was reflecting a way of nationalism.
“For me, this 14-year sentence is unacceptable and extreme. It could intimidate [journalists] reporting on border points.”
On the identical day, Battambang Courtroom of Attraction additionally held a closed-door listening to within the case of HVNN Poipet-based publisher-cum-journalist Hem Vanna who sought bail after the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Courtroom denied his request.
Solely Vanna and his lawyer, Sek Sophorn, have been allowed to attend whereas his spouse, relations and representatives from NGOs, together with Licadho and Adhoc, waited exterior.
After the listening to, Sophorn advised reporters that he argued for Vanna to be freed underneath the Structure and the Felony Process Code, contending that the decrease court docket’s denial of bail was illegal.
Presiding choose Srey Mak Ny postponed the decision until April 2, 2026.
Vanna’s spouse, Sem Sreypov, stated the household has confronted critical monetary hardship since his detention. Their 15-year-old little one dropped out of college in grade 11 to work and assist assist the household. The couple have 4 youngsters.
She added that Vanna is the only real breadwinner and is liable for family bills and debt compensation. He additionally suffers from hypertension and requires common remedy.
“I work at a manufacturing unit in Poipet, and my youngsters stick with their grandmother. With out my husband, it is extremely tough,” she lamented.
Vanna was positioned in pretrial detention on February 4, 2026, on costs of “incitement to commit a felony” and “recording non-public conversations”. He was detained after he revealed a report on 4 to 5 foreigners who have been assaulted by a gaggle believed to be employees inside a closed compound behind a navy police base in Poipet.
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