Cambodia’s top court upholds ruling to detain opposition leader hinh anh 1Leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party Kem Sokha (Source: AFP/VNA)

Phnom Penh (VNA) - Cambodia's Supreme Court on October 31 upheld a lower court’s decision to retain Kem Sokha, leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) in pre-trial detention on charges of treason.

Lawyers for the CNRP leader had asked the Supreme Court of Cambodia to rule that his detention was illegal and said that he should be granted parliamentary immunity from prosecution.

On September 26, Cambodia’s lower court denied an appeal of Kem Sokha’s lawyers to free him, and upheld the ruling of his detention. The court also decided that the opposition leader will not be released on bail.

Cambodian authorities arrested Kem Sokha on September 3. He is facing charges of treason and espionage under Article 443 of the Criminal Code.-VNA

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