jiǎn pǔ zhài柬埔寨jǐng fāng警方dài bǔ逮捕bào dào报道wǎng luò网络zhà piàn诈骗zhōng xīn中心de的jì zhě记者
A Cambodian online journalist, Hem Vanna, was arrested by police for reporting on an 'online scam center'.
On January 30, he posted a video saying there might be a scam zone near the police station in Poipet city.
On February 3, the police called him to the station and accused him of 'damaging the institution's reputation' and said his report was inaccurate in distance.
Hem Vanna said journalists are like 'mirrors of society' and hoped the authorities would not threaten journalists.
Later, he was charged under the criminal law and could face up to three years in prison.
Several civil organizations criticized the arrest, saying the government should not use criminal law to silence journalists but should ask them to explain or correct their reports according to the law.
Human rights activists are also worried that the space for press freedom is shrinking.
Media observers said that recently several journalists have been arrested for reporting on border tensions and scam zones.
International media groups called on authorities to focus on fighting cybercrime and rescuing forced laborers, rather than punishing journalists who expose problems.
On February 11, the human rights organization ADHOC wrote to the court requesting help to release Hem Vanna.