Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin arrive at Supreme Court on 16 March 2018 for a bail hearing.

The Appeal Court rejected a bail request appeal today by two former Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists Yeang Sothearin and Uon Chhin. It was the second bail application by the two men who have been held in pre-trial detention on treason charges since 18 November 2017. The court justified the rejection by claiming they could attempt to flee.

Sothearin and Chhin were arrested on 14 November 2017 and charged under Article 445 of the Criminal Code which covers providing information to foreign states or agents which can “undermine national defence”. No evidence to support the charges has been made public.

The reporters worked for RFA’s Khmer language service until the US-funded media outlet shut its Phnom Penh Bureau on 12 September 2017, citing government repression and the forced closure of its FM radio broadcasts.

Supreme Court Judge Khim Pon rejected their first bail application in March on the grounds that an investigation was still underway and that releasing the men could result in “serious damage”. After that ruling the pair were also hit with new unfounded charges under the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.

If convicted, the former RFA staffers face prison sentences of between 7 and 15 years. No trial date has been set.