"Journalist who exposed Cambodia’s scam industry released by authorities", 24 October 2024

Mech Dara, one of Cambodia’s most prominent journalists, known for exposing the country’s billion-dollar scam industry, has been released on bail after a video of him apologising to the country’s leaders appeared in pro-government media.

Dara was arrested last month while travelling with his family, and charged with incitement over social media posts.

On … a government-friendly site published a video of Dara, wearing a prison uniform, apologising and asking for forgiveness for various social media posts…

“In all the messages that I posted, I conveyed false information that affected the leaders and the country’s reputation. I sincerely apologise for my mistakes and promise to stop sharing such harmful content,” Dara said in the video.

… His case also has ramifications beyond Cambodia’s borders. Dara was at the forefront of reporting on the industrial-scale scam operations that have exploded in the country over recent years, where workers are trafficked, held in heavily fortified compounds and forced to trick victims around the world into handing over vast sums of money…

… the US announced sanctions against Ly Yong Phat, a ruling party senator, for his “role in serious human rights abuse related to the treatment of trafficked workers subjected to forced labour in online scam centres”. Dara had reported on the tycoon’s links to scam operations.

Phil Robertson, the director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates (AHRLA), said a concerted international effort was needed to ensure the charges against Dara were dropped. “The only reason that the Cambodian government will [give in] in any way shape or form, is if they feel that they’re going to lose something…