A prominent Cambodian journalist known for exposing online scam compounds was released on bail on Thursday after being detained for three weeks. His detention has been criticized by the United States and various rights groups as an infringement on press freedom.
The journalist, Mech Dara, stated in an interview that he still faces a charge of “incitement to provoke social chaos.” Authorities claim this charge stems from his social media posts that criticized injustices in Cambodia, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
At 36 years old, Mr. Mech Dara reported that he is prohibited from leaving Cambodia and must report to the police monthly. He described his time in prison as very challenging but refrained from providing further details due to the ongoing criminal charge.
His lawyer, Duch Piseth, is currently working to have the charge dismissed. Mr. Mech Dara is recognized as one of the few independent journalists remaining in Cambodia, and his arrest has sparked significant backlash against Prime Minister Hun Manet’s administration.
Mr. Mech Dara has extensively reported on Cambodia’s scam compounds, where individuals are lured with promises of legitimate employment only to be coerced into online fraud under threat of violence. He has also documented connections between these operations and Ly Yong Phat, a tycoon and senator who advises the prime minister. Last year, the State Department acknowledged Mr. Mech Dara for his efforts in uncovering human trafficking.
His release followed a day after Cambodia’s information minister shared a video in which Mr. Mech Dara apologized for his social media posts, along with a handwritten letter addressed to Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, former leader Hun Sen. In the video, he stated, “In all the messages that I posted, I conveyed false information that affected the leaders and the country’s reputation. I sincerely apologize for my mistakes and promise to stop sharing such harmful content.”
On Wednesday, Samantha Power, the administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, indicated that the U.S. government has been closely monitoring Mr. Mech Dara’s situation and that she had discussed the matter with the prime minister.
After his release from a prison in Kandal Province, Mr. Mech Dara visited a pagoda for a blessing, where he poured water on a Buddha statue and consumed prahok, a traditional dish made from fermented fish. He expressed gratitude to those who assisted in securing his bail release.