Mech Dara, an award-winning journalist, was released on bail from Kandal Provincial Prison today, close to a month after he was arrested and charged with incitement for posting alleged false information on social media.

Dara walked out of prison on Thursday after his lawyer’s submitted another bail application to Phnom Penh Capital Court. On Wednesday, a video of Dara circulated on pro-government media in which he apologised for social media posts in September that were the grounds for his incitement charge.

He was arrested on 30 September by officers of the Royal Gendarmerie while on holiday with his family in Preah Sihanouk province. Dara was sent to Phnom Penh court the next day where he was charged with incitement and sent to pretrial detention at Kandal Provincial Prison.

Dara’s work includes investigations into scam operations including the use of transnational human trafficking and torture within these compounds. His work has featured in the Cambodia Daily, Phnom Penh Post, Voice of Democracy and other international media outlets.