Abuse of power & retaliationCourts & justice
Cambodia's Phnom Penh appeals court upheld Kem Sokha's 27-year sentence for treason on 30 April 2026; the UN human rights office said the convictions are clearly inconsistent with international human rights law.
Confidence: Confirmed · 1 sourceCambodia · Oct 13, 2026
Subject of this story
Phnom Penh Court of Appeal
Also named
Oversight
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Affected
Kem Sokha, Former opposition leader, Cambodia National Rescue Party
What happened
A UN human rights office spokesperson said on 1 May 2026 that the Phnom Penh appeals court the previous day upheld the conviction and 27-year sentence of former opposition leader Kem Sokha for treason, espionage and conspiracy, connected to a speech he gave in Australia in 2013. A separate first-instance court on 29 April imposed sentences of 18 months suspended to two years on 33 others, over 2024 public comments about the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area project. The High Commissioner urged Cambodia to quash the convictions and release Kem Sokha unconditionally; the Cambodian government's response is not set out in the source.
Sources (1)
OHCHR - Cambodia: appeals court upholds prison sentences against Kem Sokha, 33 othersThe Phnom Penh appeals court yesterday upheld the conviction and 27-year sentence against Kem Sokha, the former leader of the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, for treason, espionage and conspiracy
Response
Phnom Penh Court of Appeal
Not yet contacted
Not yet contacted for this story.
What happened next (0)
No outcome recorded yet.