Cambodian Court Upholds 10-Year Sentence for Ex-Opposition Candidate on Treason Charges

The Battambang Court of Appeal announced on August 6, 2026, that it has upheld a 10-year prison sentence for a man accused of treason and illegally facilitating border crossings. The accused, identified as Chhan Nhat, 36, a former activist and candidate for the O'Chrov commune council of the Khmer Will Party, was found guilty. According to the court's ruling, Nhat was involved in photographing and posting videos of Cambodian military positions in border areas of Banteay Meanchey province, specifically in the villages of Chokchey and Prey Chan. These actions were allegedly taken while Thai soldiers were encroaching on Cambodian territory during July and September 2025, and the information was subsequently shared on social media. Nhat was arrested on September 5, 2025, by specialized police forces under an arrest warrant issued by the prosecutor of the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court. The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court had previously sentenced him to 10 years in prison for providing information that endangered national defense to a foreign state and for illegal cross-border facilitation. He had appealed this decision. Currently, Chhan Nhat remains detained in Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison. All rights reserved by CEN Cambodia.