(Reuters) – An award-winning Cambodian journalist detained on charges of inciting social unrest sought bail on Thursday, his lawyer said, a day after the government released a video of the investigative reporter apologising.
Mech Dara, who is known for exposing corruption and human trafficking, has been in pre-trial detention since Oct. 1, and faces up to two years in prison. His arrest has drawn concern from rights groups and the U.S. government.
In its Oct. 1 decision, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said Dara, who has worked for local and international media, had posted “provocative” and “false” messages and pictures about a rock quarry on a sacred mountain.
Dara’s lawyer, Duch Piseth, said the bail request had been made but it was too early to say if the charges would be dropped.
“We are just waiting for his release,” he said
On Wednesday, Cambodia’s information minister shared with journalists a video of Dara wearing prison garb and apologising. It was accompanied by images of a handwritten three-page letter the minister said was from the journalist.
“In all the messages that I posted, I conveyed false information that affected the leaders and the country’s reputation. I sincerely apologise for my mistakes and promise to stop sharing such harmful content,” Dara said in the video.
Dara received a hero award last year from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, recognising his work exposing the existence of massive scam compounds staffed mostly by trafficked workers in Cambodia.
(Writing by John Mair; Editing by Martin Petty)
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