A tour guide in Siem Reap province has been charged with conspiracy to commit treason to overthrow the government after posting a video suggesting color revolution in Nepal, while another man was charged with “incitement to discriminate” leaders.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Police Commissariat and Siem Reap Provincial Police jointly arrested Pin Poch, 48, from Svay Dangkum commune, Siem Reap city following a warrant issued by an investigating judge in Phnom Penh. He was accused of committing the act via technology, telecommunication and Facebook, according to the statement on Tuesday.
Police claimed that Poch confessed to using social networks to express opinions and accuse the government by inciting radical ideas to Cambodian citizens to participate in a “color revolution” following the Nepal model, which is considered an illegal offense not in line with democratic principles.
The arrest follows the implementation of legal procedures by the authorities based on legal grounds and evidence stipulated in the Criminal Code, police said, adding that it is “not related to politics”.
They also dismissed the concerns of civil society organizations which called the arrest a violation of freedom of expression and political intimidation. The police said the NGOs “disseminated false information without proper legal grounds”.
Poch’s Facebook account on September 10 showed a short video clip of an event that took place in Nepal. Poch allegedly commented, “In Nepal, citizens could no longer tolerate it and protested by storming the house of a corrupt minister, destroying the property, and chasing the minister away in his underwear.”
Poch’s wife, Ho Chantha, pleaded with the authorities to release her husband to the family again, as she would not be able to shoulder the family’s burden by herself, particularly the expense of their two children who are studying in primary and secondary schools.
“I beg the court to release my husband. [He was] just sharing that type of information. He likes to joke around and shares strange information. Please just educate him,” she said.
“As you know, he’s worked in tourism for 20 years now. The children aren’t just studying in public school […] They also study English after school hours, and all the school fees and expenses are paid by their father, while I only run a small business that pays for food and things,” Chantha said.
In a similar case, San Chansey, a 34-year-old bank worker in Srey Snam district, Siem Reap province, was arrested and charged for incitement to discriminate and insult public officers.
Siem Reap provincial police chief Huot Sothy could not be reached for comment.
Provincial court spokesperson Yin Sreang confirmed that Chansey was charged with “incitement to discriminate against leadership and contempt of public officials” committed on Facebook on October 9 and 18, 2025.
He said the criminal offenses are punishable by Articles 496 and 502 of the Criminal Code, adding that he is under provisional detention at Siem Reap Provincial Prison as of October 21, 2025.
Chansey’s younger sister, who requested anonymity, said she cannot accept the news. “When I met him, I didn’t dare ask much because I was afraid and couldn’t speak. We want the authorities to release him,” she said.
NGO rights group operation director Am Sam Ath said that since Cambodia adheres to a liberal multi-party democracy, freedom of expression is a key foundation of its society. He emphasized that citizens’ participation—through expression of opinions, criticism, or feedback to officials—is essential for good governance.
He noted that many people now use social media to share their views, but some have been arrested, charged, or convicted for online expression, urging the authorities and courts to differentiate between legitimate expression and criminal offenses to avoid further international criticism over shrinking freedoms.
As of October, more than 80 people have been detained for exercising their right, including 18 social media users for expressing opinions online, according to Licadho.
