Sam Sokha Sandal Throwing Conviction Upheld
Published on 22 March 2018
Kampong Speu Provincial Court confirmed the conviction today of Sam Sokha on charges of “insult” and “incitement to discriminate” for posting a video to Facebook in which she throws a sandal at a Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) billboard.
Sokha was convicted in absentia and then deported from Thailand last month despite having registered there with the United Nations refugee agency. Her case was retried on 15 March 2018.
The video clip, posted in April 2017 – just two months before local elections – includes colourful language and criticism of Prime Minister Hun Sen. In the video she is seen throwing a sandal at photos of the prime minister and of Heng Samrin, Honorary President of the CPP and President of the National Assembly.
She received a two year sentence and was ordered to pay a five million riel (US$ 1,250) fine.
