A top opposition official has been ordered to appear in court on allegations he was involved in violence during the local election campaign.
Morn Phalla, Cambodia National Rescue Party executive director, was last week ordered to present himself at a local police station.
He told VOA Khmer he was unaware of any violence being reported during the election campaign, which he organized for the opposition.
“In the past, CNRP officials and activists were detained and sent to court one by one without any consideration for legal procedure ... therefore, I’m worried about presenting myself to the court,” he said.
Seang Sok, municipal court prosecutor, issued an order on Tuesday that called on Phalla to visit a police station by July 17.
It came a day after Prime Minister Hun Sen commented on alleged violence by CNRP youth activists during the campaign.
Ly Sophanna, court spokesman, could not be reached. Hour Meng Vang, a police deputy, declined to comment. His superior, Choun Sovann, was also unavailable.
The alleged incident led Phalla to be called to court over what was captured in a video clip posted on social media in June. The video appears to show an opposition activist shouting at a man riding a motorbike while another clip seems to show a CNRP youth activist hit someone.
The person who was hit in the video, Sek Samon, filed a lawsuit against a group of opposition youths he accused of taking part in the incident.
Sok Sam Oeun, a human rights lawyer, described the court subpoena as “irrational”.
“If one wants to arrest the head of a rally, one should arrest the alleged offender first. So if the suspect claims innocence, he may have followed someone’s orders,” he said.
More than 20 opposition members and supporters have been detained related to a slew of cases filed by the ruling party since the 2013 general election.
