Lon Nol Serey, the leader of the Khmer Serey (Free Khmer) movement, was sent to T3 prison Monday morning after his arrest Friday on a charge of illegally possessing a firearm, Phnom Penh’s municipal penal police chief said Monday.
Penal Police Chief Khoan Sophon said Lon Nol Serey was arrested near the Chroy Changvar bridge by municipal and military police officers who had set up a roadblock to check people carrying illegal firearms and explosives.
“[Lon Nol Serey] was captured by the mixed explosives monitoring commission at the edge of the Chroy Changvar bridge and was charged with possessing an illegal gun,” Khoan Sophon said.
Lon Nol Serey drew attention to the Free Khmer Movement in April 1998 when he tried to organize a protest march to demand that members of the royal family be barred from participating in the political arena.
More recently, Lon Nol Serey called for the resignation of Cabinet Minister Sok An over allegations he accepted a bribe to allow the Naga Floating Casino stay open past a city deadline for closing all casinos.
Kann Chheoun, municipal court chief prosecutor, said Monday that Lon Nol Serey could face a lengthy prison sentence for carrying the gun.
“According to Article 54 of the interim penal code, anyone who bears, holds or transports arms or explosives can be imprisoned from six months to three years,” said Kann Chheoun.
However, the sentence can be suspended if Lon Nol Serey has never been involved in any act that has threatened social security, Kann Chheoun added.
Khoan Sophon said he did not know when Lon Nol Serey would face a court appearance.
