ASEANews Headline: PHNOM PENH, Cambodia- Eight charged over failed coup

The eight suspects charged over an alleged plot to overthrow the government. Koh Santepheap

.

He refused to identify the eight suspects, saying police are looking for their companions and the mastermind.

“I can not say anything more than this. Please let the police work on it first,” he said. “The operation is not yet finished.”

According to a report obtained by Khmer Times yesterday, the eight suspects are linked to the Khmer National Liberation Front and the Tiger Head movement, both organisations deemed terrorists by the government.

Lieutenant General Y Sok Khy, director of the Interior Ministry’s anti-terrorism and trans-boundary crime department, yesterday said the suspects were sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ly Sophanna said the eight suspects have been charged with participation in an armed group, organising an armed group and trafficking weapons.

“The prosecutor has questioned and charged them. He also sent the case to the investigating judge,” Mr Sophanna said.

Kampot provincial police chief Major General Mao Chanmathurith said of the eight suspects, a couple was arrested at their house in the province’s Chhouk district last week.

“The two suspects are in their 60s. They lived in Kampot for years. I have no further details. Provincial police just cooperated with the National Police to make the arrests,” Maj Gen Chanmathurith said.

Interior Ministry spokesman General Khieu Sopheak said he has not yet received a complete report about the case.

Sam Serey, president of the KNLF, denied that the eight people were KNLF members.

“I do not know them. They are not members of the KNLF. We have worked peacefully. They [police] always make up a plot and evidence to discredit the KNLF. We do not use violence at all,” Mr Serey said. “They want to defame me because the KNLF is more popular now.”

Mr Serey was sentenced in absentia to nine years in prison for trying to topple the government in 2014. He was granted asylum in Denmark after living as refugee in Thailand for a number of years.

In April, Mr Serey and his KNLF, branded a terrorist organisation by Prime Minister Hun Sen, were accused of plotting bomb attacks in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province prior to Khmer New Year.

Soon after, the Council of Minister’s Press and Quick Reaction Unit released an 18-minute video accusing the KNLF of colluding with former opposition leader Sam Rainsy in a plot to overthrow the government.

Since 2014, about 20 KNLF members have been convicted after being found guilty of plotting to topple the government and inciting people to protest against the government. Each was sentenced to between one and ten years in jail.

Mr Serey was arrested in Thailand on April 25 for overstaying his visa, but was allowed to return to Denmark on April 27 thanks to intervention from Human Rights Watch, the Danish embassy in Bangkok, and the United Nations. / Taing Vida / Khmer Times

It's only fair to share...