Phnom Penh (FN), March 27 - Court of Appeal still continued the hearing despite the absence of jailed former opposition leader Kem Sokha on Tuesday regarding a decision made in early March to extend his pre-trial detention by six months, according to Sokha’s lawyer Sam Sokong.

A group of Kem Sokha’s lawyers claimed that the detention of Kem Sokha was wrong and demanded release. However, the criminal code determined that the Investigating judge, with clear evidence and reasons, can delay the detention of the accused.

Sam Sokong, a Lawyer of Kem Sokha, confirmed that Kem Sokha filed a complaint against the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's decision to extend the detention of Kem Sokha for six months.

Kem Sokha was arrested at his house at 00:35 am on September 3, 2017 in his Toul Kork’s house, Phnom Penh. The arrest was made when Sokha appeared in a video to initiate plans to topple the government. The offence is subject to 15 to 30 years imprisonment based on article 443 of the Criminal Code.
=FRESH NEWS