Cambodian court sends analyst to prison for defaming premier
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A court in Cambodia has sentenced a political analyst to 18 months in prison on the basis of a criminal complaint by Prime Minister Hun Sen that he had defamed him in a radio interview.
Judge Ky Rithy of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ruled Thursday that there was sufficient evidence to find Kim Sok guilty of defamation and a charge of inciting chaos.
Kim Sok was arrested in February after giving an interview to U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia that Hun Sen felt implied his government was behind the killing last year of another political analyst and critic of the government, Kem Ley.
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Rights groups accuse Hun Sen's government of using the courts to harass its critics and political opponents.