{"id":59637,"date":"2026-04-30T04:36:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T08:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodia-appeals-court-confirms-opposition-leaders-27-year-sentence\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T04:36:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T08:36:54","slug":"cambodia-appeals-court-confirms-opposition-leaders-27-year-sentence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodia-appeals-court-confirms-opposition-leaders-27-year-sentence\/","title":{"rendered":"Cambodia Appeals Court Confirms Opposition Leader’s 27-Year Sentence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) \u2014 An appeals court in Cambodia confirmed Thursday the treason conviction and 27-year prison term for opposition politician Kem Sokha, whose detention in 2017 triggered an extensive campaign by the government to suppress political adversaries throughout the nation.<\/p>

The Phnom Penh Appeals Court additionally prohibited Kem Sokha from departing the country for five years following completion of his sentence, which he is currently serving while confined to his residence.<\/p>

Critics have repeatedly charged Cambodia’s administration with weaponizing the court system to target dissidents and political rivals. While the government maintains it supports legal principles within a democratic electoral framework, opposition parties viewed as potential challengers have been disbanded through court orders or seen their leadership imprisoned or intimidated.<\/p>

Kem Sokha, who is now 72 years old, received his conviction in 2023 after an extended period of pretrial imprisonment. Authorities alleged he plotted with the United States to overthrow Cambodia’s ruling government. The key evidence presented against him included footage showing him receiving political guidance from American pro-democracy organizations.<\/p>

His Cambodia National Rescue Party served as the sole viable challenger to the governing Cambodian People’s Party, but the Supreme Court disbanded it following his detention, preventing it from participating in the 2018 electoral contest.<\/p>

The political organization led by longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen then claimed every seat in the National Assembly. His son, Hun Manet, took over the leadership role in 2023 but has maintained the restrictive political environment.<\/p>

During his appearance before the appeals court this month, Kem Sokha stated he had never plotted with any foreign nation in ways that would harm Cambodian lives or result in territorial losses, emphasizing his commitment to peaceful methods and national solidarity.<\/p>

Kem Sokha’s attorney, Pheng Heng, expressed disappointment with the court’s ruling to media representatives and indicated he and his client must determine whether to pursue a further appeal with the Supreme Court. He called on the government to work toward national healing.<\/p>

International diplomatic missions in Cambodia voiced concerns about the court’s decision.<\/p>

“We would like to see Kem Sokha released and his political freedoms restored,” the British Embassy said in a statement. “We believe this would help strengthen democracy in Cambodia.”<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A Cambodian appeals court has confirmed the treason conviction and lengthy prison sentence for opposition leader Kem Sokha, whose 2017 detention sparked widespread government suppression of political rivals. The 72-year-old politician was found guilty of allegedly plotting with the United States to overthrow Cambodia’s government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":59636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1777538213696.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-fvT","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":71617,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodian-opposition-leader-freed-after-royal-pardon-on-treason-conviction\/","url_meta":{"origin":59637,"position":0},"title":"Cambodian Opposition Leader Freed After Royal Pardon on Treason Conviction","author":"Admin","date":"May 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Kem Sokha, a prominent Cambodian opposition figure, received a royal pardon Monday that freed him from house arrest following his 27-year treason sentence. The pardon came a month after an appeals court upheld his conviction for allegedly conspiring with the United States to overthrow Cambodia's government.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779716202704.jpg?fit=1000%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779716202704.jpg?fit=1000%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779716202704.jpg?fit=1000%2C678&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779716202704.jpg?fit=1000%2C678&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":71598,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodias-king-grants-clemency-to-former-opposition-leader-convicted-of-treason\/","url_meta":{"origin":59637,"position":1},"title":"Cambodia’s King Grants Clemency to Former Opposition Leader Convicted of Treason","author":"Admin","date":"May 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cambodia's monarch has granted a royal pardon to former opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was serving a 27-year sentence for treason. The 72-year-old co-founder of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party had been under house arrest since his March 2023 conviction.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1779711747068.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":60673,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/state-department-condemns-cambodias-upholding-of-opposition-leaders-27-year-sentence\/","url_meta":{"origin":59637,"position":2},"title":"State Department Condemns Cambodia’s Upholding of Opposition Leader’s 27-Year Sentence","author":"Admin","date":"May 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The U.S. State Department expressed concern Friday after a Cambodian appeals court maintained a 27-year treason sentence against former opposition leader Kem Sokha. The 72-year-old co-founder of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party has been under house arrest since his conviction in March 2023.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1777692165305.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":83943,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodias-top-court-upholds-conviction-of-opposition-figure-bars-him-from-politics\/","url_meta":{"origin":59637,"position":3},"title":"Cambodia’s Top Court Upholds Conviction of Opposition Figure, Bars Him from Politics","author":"Admin","date":"June 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cambodia's Supreme Court has confirmed the incitement conviction of a prominent opposition politician, though it suspended the rest of his prison sentence. The ruling means Rong Chhun will be barred from political activity for five years and from traveling abroad for three years. Supporters gathered outside the court reacted with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781843609967.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781843609967.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781843609967.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781843609967.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":81599,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodian-opposition-figure-pleads-for-freedom-at-supreme-court-appeal\/","url_meta":{"origin":59637,"position":4},"title":"Cambodian Opposition Figure Pleads for Freedom at Supreme Court Appeal","author":"Admin","date":"June 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A prominent Cambodian opposition politician appeared before the country's Supreme Court on Monday, seeking to overturn a conviction for incitement that landed him a four-year prison sentence. Rong Chhun, a top adviser to the Nation Power Party, was greeted by roughly 300 cheering supporters outside the courthouse. The court's ruling\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781505045344.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781505045344.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781505045344.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/news-1781505045344.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":86497,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/cambodias-top-court-set-to-rule-on-treason-case-against-two-jailed-journalists\/","url_meta":{"origin":59637,"position":5},"title":"Cambodia’s Top Court Set to Rule on Treason Case Against Two Jailed Journalists","author":"Admin","date":"June 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Cambodia's Supreme Court was scheduled to issue a ruling Thursday on the appeal of two journalists convicted of treason for sharing border-related photographs on social media. 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