The authoritarian prime minister sued Senator Thak Lany in August over a video clip allegedly showing her accusing Hun Sen of orchestrating the killing of Kem Ley, a prominent government critic. The brazen daylight murder of the pro-democracy activist in the capital Phnom Penh in July sent fear rippling across a country with a history of political assassinations. Senator Thak Lany, who is believed to have fled the country shortly after she was charged, was convicted Thursday in absentia of defamation and inciting chaos with her remarks. "After examining documents and evidence, the court decides to sentence Thak Lany... to one year and a half in prison," Judge Y Thavrak said at a Phnom Penh court. A former soldier has been charged with Kem Ley's murder but police have kept a tight lid on the details of their investigation.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 17, 2016 11:48 UTC