Journalist Ung Thap Reang outside the Battambang Appeal Court on 1 August 2024.

The Supreme Court this morning upheld the conviction of journalist Ung Thap Reang on charges of defamation and incitement to commit felony under Articles 305 and 495 of the Criminal Code.

The Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court had convicted the journalist on 25 January 2024, handing him a fully suspended six-month prison sentence and ordering him to pay a 2 million riel (about US$500) fine. The Battambang Appeal Court upheld the lower court’s verdict in full on 15 August 2024. The Supreme Court upheld the conviction and suspended prison sentence this morning although dropped the previously imposed fine.

The charges stemmed from complaints filed by the Poipet Referral Hospital and the provincial tax department, after they were accused of bribery in online posts by the Khmer Cheayden media outlet.