Cambodia resumes treason trial of opposition leader Kem Sokha

The trial, widely panned by critics, was delayed by almost two years amid the pandemic

Cambodian opposition leader leader Kem Sokha in 2019. He is currently standing trial on treason charges, © Getty Images

SHAUN TURTON, Contributing writer

January 19, 2022 13:06 JST

PHNOM PENH -- A Cambodian court on Wednesday resumed hearing a treason case against opposition leader Kem Sokha after an almost two-year delay in proceedings that authorities blamed on COVID-19.

Sokha, former president of the now-banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was arrested in a midnight raid in September 2017 and later charged with "conspiracy with foreign power," an offense that carries up to 30 years of jail time.