Court charges two for defamation over land dispute in Koh Kong

Hundreds of people gathered in front of the Koh Kong Provincial Court on November 18 to await the sentencing of their three community land representatives who were accused of defamation related to a land dispute.

Provincial court prosecutor Un Sovantheany identified the three activists as Phao Nherng, Seng Lin and Khon Phon. They were sued for defamation by one of their former fellow representatives, Chhay Vy.

Vy said the three had falsely accused her of persuading people living in Sre Ambel district’s Chi Khor Leu commune to sell their community land.

Vy’s lawsuit came after 175 families in Chi Khor Leu filed a complaint to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on November 25, last year accusing her of inciting people to sell their land.

Nherng, one of the three accused, told The Post that she and Lin were charged with the defamation charge, while Phon was acquitted.

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