The Supreme Court denied bail on Friday to a CNRP district councilor who is being held in provisional detention over charges related to his alleged role in the melee between protesters and stick-wielding security guards during a protest at Freedom Park on July 15.
Explaining the decision, Saly Theara, one of the four judges on the Supreme Court panel, said only that Soum Vuthy had already had his bail requested twice by the lower courts, and that a hearing in the case was scheduled for later this month.
As he left the courtroom, Mr. Vuthy, a councilor in Phnom Penh’s Chbar Ampov district, said that he was “very regretful” about the decision. Mr. Vuthy’s lawyer Sam Sokong said the decision was particularly worrisome given his clients health problems.
“He is facing health problems of high blood pressure and diabetes,” Mr. Sokong said.
Municipal court vice president Taing Sunlay said a hearing for Mr. Vuthy and 10 other activists charged with taking part in an insurrection during the July protest has been scheduled for February 23.
