Cambodian court denies bail for Australian who filmed rally
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected an application for bail for an Australian filmmaker who was charged with endangering national security last year for flying a camera-loaded drone over an opposition party campaign rally.
James Ricketson, 68, was arrested in the capital Phnom Penh on June 3 after filming the last day of campaigning for local elections a day earlier. The government of Prime Minister Hun Sen has been critical of media it considers sympathetic to the opposition, and Ricketson often filmed the activities of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, which late last year was dissolved by a court ruling.
He has been charged with collecting information prejudicial to national defence, which is punishable by five to 10 years in prison.
A Supreme Court statement said the decision was made by a lower court according to the law. It added that Ricketson should not be freed on bail because his case is still under investigation by the court.