Court seeks arrest of RFA reporter
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on May 2 stepped up its pressure on Radio Free Asia reporter Chun Chanboth by issuing an arrest warrant for him, hours after his lawyer submitted a written statement admitting Chanboth had joined an opposition delegation visiting Prey Sar prison, but denying that he concealed his identity to gain entry. RFA confirmed on Monday that Chanboth, who uses a pseudonym in place of his given name Huot Vuthy, had returned to the United States on the advice of his employer for fear of his safety. Nonetheless, the court’s deputy prosecutor, Seang Sok, issued the arrest warrant, citing “intention to escape from the court” and directing law enforcement to arrest the reporter. He also accused Chanboth of breaking his “promise to the court”, citing an alleged letter he sent informing the court that he had travelled to Thailand and would subsequently return to Cambodia for his hearing.
