Cambodian King pardons opposition leader

In the royal decree, the King granted amnesty to Kem Sokha, 63, who was convicted of refusal to appear in court, according to a verdict issued by the Cambodian Appeal Court on November 4.

The pardon was made after Kem Sokha wrote a letter on December 1 to Prime Minister Hun Sen, asking him to request the King to grant him a pardon. Hun Sen agreed the day after.

Earlier, Kem Sokha was sentenced to five months in prison and fined 800,000 riel (200 USD) after failing to appear in court twice in connection with an affair case.