Seng Lin (left) and Phav Nheung (right) in front of the Supreme Court on 28 May 2025. (Photo supplied by the Chi Khar Kraom Community)

Phav Nheung and Seng Lin, two land community activists from Koh Kong province, had their defamation convictions referred back to the Preah Sihanouk Appeal Court by the Supreme Court this morning for a retrial.

Nheung and Lin were charged in November 2019 with incitement and defamation under Articles 494-495 and 305 of the Criminal Code. They were later placed under judicial supervision following a complaint launched by Chhay Vy, a former community representative whom the two activists had accused of being involved in seizing land in 2019. The Koh Kong Provincial Court convicted both women on all charges in August 2023, but in December that year the Appeal Court dropped the incitement charges while upholding the defamation conviction and reduced the amount of compensation. As a result, both activists were ordered to pay a 4 million riel fine (approximately US$1,000) and 10 million riel (approximately US$2,500) in compensation to Vy.

Today’s Supreme Court verdict means that Nheung and Lin’s remaining defamation case will be sent back to the Preah Sihanouk Appeal Court for a retrial.