Rong Chhun, an adviser to the Nation Power Party, says he hopes Cambodia’s Supreme Court will restore his political rights after it heard his appeal on June 15. The court is expected to announce its ruling on June 19.
Rong Chhun is challenging a verdict by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, which sentenced him to four years in prison, fined him four million riel, and permanently stripped him of his political rights.
Speaking outside the Supreme Court after the hearing, Rong Chhun told journalists and supporters that he hoped the court would deliver justice.
“I hope the court will provide justice and full freedom for me so that I can take part in political activities again,” he said.
He also called on judges to act independently and respect the oath they took when assuming office.
The hearing was attended by leaders and activists from the Nation Power Party, civil society representatives, and hundreds of supporters who accompanied Rong Chhun to the Supreme Court.
On May 5, 2025, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court found Rong Chhun guilty of repeat offending and sentenced him to four years in prison, along with a fine of four million riel.
The court linked the case to his political activities after his release from prison in 2021 in connection with comments he made about the Cambodia and Vietnam border issue.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court permanently revoked his political rights, meaning he can no longer vote or stand as a candidate in elections.
The Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling will determine whether Rong Chhun’s conviction and the removal of his political rights will be upheld or changed in line with his appeal.
