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The Supreme Court on Friday heard the final appeal of prominent human rights activist Koet Saray, who is serving a four year prison sentence on incitement charges in a case condemned by U.N. experts and rights groups.
The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on July 3.
Saray, 31, president of the youth-led Khmer Student Intelligent League Association (KSILA), was convicted in November 2024 over his advocacy for residents involved in a long-running land dispute with rubber company Seladamex in Preah Vihear province. He has served about two years of his sentence.
His lawyer, Ly Sochetra, asked the court to overturn lower court rulings upholding the conviction, arguing Saray had only documented villagers’ grievances and sought a peaceful resolution.
“My client went to meet villagers affected by the land dispute to collect information and bring it to the authorities so the problem could be resolved peacefully,” Sochetra told the court.
Saray denied the charges and urged the Supreme Court to acquit him.
Deputy Prosecutor General Duch Kimsorn asked the panel of judges to uphold the conviction, saying prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to prove Saray incited social unrest.
Saray was convicted of “incitement to cause serious chaos to social security,” “committing a misdemeanor after sentencing for another misdemeanor,” and incitement to commit a felony under Cambodia’s Criminal Code.
The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has found Saray’s detention arbitrary, while rights groups have described the prosecution as politically motivated and called for his immediate and unconditional release. Cambodian authorities have defended prosecutions they say are carried out in accordance with the law.
The case is the latest involving a prominent activist to reach Cambodia’s highest court following a series of rulings this month upholding convictions against opposition figures and journalists, drawing renewed criticism over civic space and judicial independence.
Saray was previously sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2021 for taking part in a protest supporting then-imprisoned union leader Rong Chhun.
Am Sam Ath, operations director at rights group Licadho, called for Saray’s release, saying the case undermined freedom of association.
“KSILA is legally registered with the Interior Ministry. When we conduct our activities and are arrested, it restricts freedom of association and the work of civil society organizations,” he said.
Sam Ath also said Saray’s social media posts were protected by freedom of expression.
Licadho says Saray is among 117 “prisoners of interest” currently detained in Cambodia on what it describes as unfounded charges criminalizing activism and free expression.
