A seven-year sentence handed down to blogger Hin Chan last June for disseminating dissident group Khmer National Liberation Front (KNLF) messages and forging a passport was upheld by the Court of Appeal in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.
Presiding Judge Pol Sam Oeun did not explain his decision to uphold the June ruling by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
The KNLF has been labeled a terrorist organization by the government for its strong statements against the continuing rule of the CPP.
Sam Sokong, Mr. Chan’s lawyer, rejected the verdict, maintaining that his client never had any intention of overthrowing the government.
He added that the blogger—who has admitted only that he traveled to Thailand on a fake passport to find work—had not forged the document himself.
“We will appeal to the Supreme Court because the sentence against him is so serious,” he said.
In August, the Court of Appeal also upheld seven and eight-year sentences given to seven KNLF members for plotting to overthrow the government.
