The National Assembly yesterday voted to
Mr Sokha was last week charged by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court with treason for conspiring with a foreign power. The offence is punishable by 15 to 30 years in jail.
The case against Mr Sokha is based on video footage published by the Australia-based news outlet CBN, in which he speaks of being tutored by the US to lead regime change in Cambodia.
The video was deemed a “red-handed” crime, dispelling Mr Sokha’s parliamentary immunity and allowing police to arrest him.
The National Assembly yesterday held a special session to debate whether to allow the court to continue its case against Mr Sokha, which the opposition CNRP boycotted, choosing to attempt a visit to their jailed leader in Tboung Khmum province’s Trapaing Phlong prison instead.
The ruling CPP voted to allow the court to continue its case, while CNRP lawmakers were in Tboung Khmum being blocked by authorities from visiting Mr Sokha.
CNRP vice president Mu Sochua said a request to visit Mr Sokha was denied, and hundreds of armed forces then blocked her and 17 other opposition lawmakers from getting into the prison.
