Jailed political analyst Kim Sok has told a Cambodian court that he has been beaten by prison guards after requesting access to writing materials.
The analyst was sentenced to 18 months in jail for alleging that leading members of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, were involved in the murder of fellow analyst Kem Ley, who was gunned down in Phnom Penh in 2016.
Sok appeared before the Supreme Court on Wednesday for a parole hearing. His request was denied.
During the proceedings, Sok told the court that he was beaten and kicked by two guards in Prey Sar prison after he asked for a newspaper and books to read and some paper to write on.
Local media outlet Voice of Democracy quoted Sok saying: “In prison, they do not allow us to take any documents inside. They do not allow us to have books, newspapers, pens or anything to write with.”
Sok’s lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy, was not informed that the hearing on Wednesday would take place, he said.
“If there was such violence, it is wrong. It violates the law and the person who did that should be punished,” he said, adding that he was looking into the possibility of filing a lawsuit against the alleged attackers.
Nov Mony Chout, a court spokesman, said he was not aware of the allegations of violence as he had not attended the hearing. Prison officials could not be reached for comment.
Sok was an outspoken analyst prior to his arrest and regularly criticized the government in the media.
