The Phnom Penh Municipal Court indefinitely delayed the scheduled reading of a verdict in a case involving a 16-year-old child who is the son of a jailed former political opposition member, giving the reason that the judge in the case was “busy”.

The child, whose mother says has autism spectrum disorder, was charged with incitement and insult of public officials after being arrested on 24 June 2021. Evidence in the case included messages sent over Telegram. The charges under Articles 494, 495 and 502 of the Criminal Code carry a maximum of two years in prison as well as fines.

The child was previously denied release under court supervision on 3 August 2021 and has now been detained 111 days without access to his family. He was previously the target of violent attacks, including an incident in April 2021 when a brick was thrown at his head, requiring stitches.

A new date for the reading of the verdict has not been scheduled.

The 2016 Law on Juvenile Justice provides that pre-trial detention should be a measure of last resort for children, and that priority should be given to cases of children in pre-trial detention. Article 214 of the Code on Criminal Procedure limits pre-trial detention of children 16 to under 18 years of age accused of misdemeanours to four months.