LICADHO's Banteay Meanchey office, pictured on 6 December 2023.

Six police officers entered LICADHO’s office in Banteay Meanchey province this afternoon and arrested four people who were seeking legal advice on behalf of imprisoned political activist Kong Saron, who is being represented by LICADHO’s legal team.

The four individuals include Hang Treub, Kong Saron’s wife; Seng Chantha, their daughter; and two other people who had accompanied them to LICADHO’s office. All four were arrested about 10 minutes after arriving at the office, after Treub had visited her husband in prison earlier this morning.

LICADHO staff asked for relevant documents, which police did not provide, instead responding that they were “obeying orders.” The police officers also ordered LICADHO staff to delete photographs of their presence at the office.

Kong Saron has been imprisoned since 25 November 2023, and was sentenced to three years in prison over political opinions that he published on Facebook during the 2023 July election campaign.

Update: On 7 December, family members of Kong Saron informed LICADHO that the four arrested people returned to their homes at around 18:30 on 6 December.