The case against Rath Rott Mony, a translator jailed for two years for his alleged contributions to Russia Today’s documentary on sex trafficking in Cambodia, is headed to the Supreme Court, Rott Mony’s lawyer said.
Sam Titseyha said on Tuesday that he was contesting the Appeal Court’s decision of Nov. 29 to uphold the guilty verdict against Rott Mony for incitement to discriminate.
“Mr. Rott Mony thinks that the Appeal Court’s decision is unjust, so he cannot accept it,” Titseyha said. “I request that the Supreme Court acquit my client, and that the court will allow him to meet with his family soon.”
On Nov. 29, the Appeal Court upheld the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s June sentence against Rath Rott Mony for his work with Moscow-based RT News.
The documentary, “My Mother Sold Me,” told the story of three young girls who were supposedly sold for sex by their mothers. The government rejected the documentary’s claims and criticized the film as tarnishing “Cambodia’s culture and reputation.”
Rott Mony was credited as being a producer but maintains that he was merely a translator.
His wife, Long Kimheang, said she still believed the Supreme Court could find justice for her husband.
“I hope that the government, Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Cambodian court will release my husband from prison soon,” Kimheang said.
Appeal Court spokesman Touch Tharith could not be reached for comment.
