Cambodia: Border Newspaper Editor Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term for Defamation and Incitement

The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court, on the afternoon of July 16, 2026, announced its verdict and decided to sentence Mr. Ung Thaprang, editor-in-chief of the Khmer Borderland news agency, to six months in prison, suspended. This sentence is for the charges of public defamation under Article 305 and incitement to cause serious social unrest under Articles 494 and 495 of the Penal Code. The presiding judge stated that the accused, Mr. Ung Thaprang, has the right to appeal this decision to the Court of Appeal within 30 days (one month) if he cannot accept it. According to the court's order, in this criminal case, Mr. Thaprang was sued by the plaintiff, who is the Inspector of the Poipet City Police Inspectorate. The lawsuit was filed after Mr. Thaprang published information on the Khmer Borderland news agency's Facebook page detailing the inspector's activities related to the preparation of an irregular report on an incident of violence. Mr. Thaprang was placed under judicial supervision by the investigating judge of the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court on October 22, 2025, subject to certain strict conditions under Article 223 of the Criminal Procedure Code. In January 2024, Mr. Thaprang was also charged with the same two criminal offenses in a separate and distinct case. He was sentenced by the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court to six months in prison, suspended, and fined two million Riels (approximately $500 USD). All rights reserved by CEN