In Cambodia, autistic teenager sentenced for insulting government in Telegram posts
- Kak Sovann Chhay, 16, was arrested in June and received an eight-month sentence, largely suspended, for incitement and insulting public officials
- His father is in jail for allegedly agitating for the toppling of Prime Minister Hun Sen, and the teen was said to be defending himself on social media
The son of an opposition figure, 16-year-old Kak Sovann Chhay was arrested in late June after posting messages on a private Telegram group, and has been detained for more than four months.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday sentenced him to eight months in prison, under incitement charges and for insulting public officials.
Most of the remainder of his term – taking into account time served – has been suspended for two years. He will be released from prison this month but will remain under probation for two additional years, during which time he will be required to appear before the court whenever summoned; tell the court if he changes address; and obtain permission to leave the country, among other conditions, local rights group Licadho said.
“It is unjust for my son because he did not commit any crime like the court had charged,” his mother Prum Chantha said.
She added that she had not decided whether to appeal the guilty verdict.