Hang Chakra put in a cell with 50 other prisoners

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According to a source, Hang Chakra, the Editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper who is currently jailed in Prey Sar prison, is in normal health, but he is put into a cramped small jail cell with 50 other prisoners.

As the same time, a NGO indicated that Hang Chakra is facing urinary tract health problem, and he also feels tense.

Choung Chou-ngy, Hang Chakra’s defense lawyer, went to visit his client at the Prey Sar jail on 13 July 2009 at 2PM. He told RFA: “He has no health problem. The main issue is my work for his case, the court will send his case to appeal. Just now, I confirmed with him whether he still needs me as his appeal defense lawyer or not? He said that he still needs me as his defense lawyer for the appeal.”

Choung Chou-ngy added that he and his client appealed the case on 26 June. He is currently waiting for the Appeal court to hold the upcoming hearing, however, there is no date set yet.

He said that prior to his meeting with his client, Hang Netra, Hang Chakra’s daughter, and her husband also went to visit their parent on Monday morning.

Am Sam At, director on investigation for the Licadho human rights organization, declared that Licadho’s doctor recently received the authorization from the jail warden to meet and check up Hang Chakra’s on Monday.

Am Sam At said: “The checkup of his health shows that he has health problem because of his urinary tract. The doctor looked after him and gave him medicine. Besides this, he is stuffed and he has anxiety, when he is like this, he could have mental problem.”

Hang Chakra is the editor-in-chief of the Khmer Machas Srok newspaper, he was sentenced in absentia by the Phnom Penh municipal court to 12-month jail sentence and 9 million riels ($2,250) fine for disinformation and defamation because his newspaper published an article in April and May accusing Hun Sen of breaking up the corruption nest led by Sok An.

Son An, the vice-PM and minister of the Council of ministers, rejected this allegation during a National Assembly session in June.

Civil society organizations indicated that this government lawsuit was aimed at shutting down the freedom of expression and criticisms against the government.

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