The four Srae Prang community members attended a Supreme Court appeal hearing on 7 October 2024. (Photo Supplied)

The Supreme Court this morning acquitted four members of the Srae Prang community who were convicted for “intentional damage” related to a long-standing land dispute with Harmony Win Investment rubber company in Tbong Khmum province.

Today’s verdict dropped the charges against Chhork Chhey, Khem Sokcheang, Pum Pich and Veun Ver following their appeal hearing on 7 October. Community members have advocated against the Chinese-owned Harmony Win Investment company, which has routinely blocked access to and cleared community farmland. This has resulted in ongoing protests and the imprisonment of at least four other community representatives.

Today’s defendants were initially convicted by the Tbong Khmum Provincial Court in 2022 under Article 411 of the Criminal Code for “intentional damage with aggravating circumstances” and sentenced to two years in prison. The Tbong Khmum Appeal Court upheld this ruling in 2022, but the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in August 2023. The appeal court upheld the convictions earlier this year, but amended the prison term to two year suspended sentences. The Supreme Court’s verdict today means that the charges against the four community members are now dropped in their entirety.