Detained Cambodian journalist seeks bail after apologising

24/10/2024 13:14

        An award-winning Cambodian journalist detained on charges of inciting social unrest sought bail on Thursday, his lawyer said, a day after the government released a video of the investigative reporter apologising.
        
        Mech Dara, who is known for exposing corruption and human trafficking, has been in pre-trial detention since Oct. 1, and faces up to two years in prison. His arrest has drawn concern from rights groups and the U.S. government.
        
        In its Oct. 1 decision, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said Dara, who has worked for local and international media, had posted "provocative" and "false" messages and pictures about a rock quarry on a sacred mountain.
        
        Dara's lawyer, Duch Piseth, said the bail request had been made but it was too early to say if the charges would be dropped.
        
        On Wednesday, Cambodia's information minister shared with journalists a video of Dara wearing prison garb and apologising. It was accompanied by images of a handwritten three-page letter the minister said was from the journalist.