Mr. Mer Seng Hor. Photo from his Facebook.

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court this morning upheld the conviction of Mer Seng Hor, also known as Kea Visal, the deputy head of the Nation Power Party (NPP) in Kampong Cham province.

Seng Hor was arrested in March 2024 and convicted in August that year by the Phnom Penh Capital Court of public insult and incitement to discriminate under Articles 494, 496 and 307 of the Criminal Code. The conviction came after a Facebook post that was critical of the government’s democratic track record. He was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay a 4 million riel (around US$1,000) fine.

Seng Hour was also ordered to pay 20 million riel (around US$5,000) in damages to Mai Hong Sreang, a former opposition official who later joined the ruling party and filed the complaint against Seng Hor.

Seng Hor was previously arrested in 2019 on incitement charges over comments he made on Facebook and radio. He is currently detained in PJ prison in Phnom Penh.

LICADHO has highlighted Seng Hor’s case as a “Repeat Defender”.