Khem Chanvannak (right) photographed with Candlelight Party vice president Son Chhay in April 2023. (Source:Facebook)

The acting head of Candlelight Party’s Phnom Penh operations was arrested on Monday and sent to court today after being accused of allegedly forging election-related documents by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Khem Chanvannak was arrested by police on Monday while at his home with his family and held by police overnight. The municipal police released a statement on Tuesday saying he was being questioned for allegedly forging election documents on November 7, 2023.

Three plaintiffs allege that Chanvannak forged documents, thumbprints and signatures to add their names to Daun Penh district’s Phsar Thmei 3 commune candidate list without their consent. Political parties are expected to keep their candidate lists complete and can update them during the five years of a mandate.

Phnom Penh Municipal Court deputy prosecutor Seng Heang issued an order on Monday giving authorities until January 30 to bring Chanvannak to court. Chanvannak was taken to court on Tuesday for further questioning.

Another Candlelight official, Chhay Chinda, who works with the party’s women’s wing, was also reported to have been arrested on Monday, though confirmation from police or details regarding the arrest were not immediately available.

These arrests follow a pattern of intimidation, harassment and violence faced by Candlelight officials across the country. These latest arrests come weeks before the 2024 Senate Election on February 25, where 11,622 elected commune councillors across the country – including 2,198 councillors from the Candlelight Party – are set to vote to elect new senators.