Three Cambodian community land representatives and activists, namely Phao Nherng (or Phav Nhoeung), Seng Lin and Khon Phon, were accused of defamation related to a land dispute, by one of their former fellow representatives, Chhay Vy, who claimed the three had falsely accused her of persuading people living in Sre Ambel district’s Chi Khor Leu commune to sell their community land. Vy’s lawsuit came after 175 families in Chi Khor Leu filed a complaint to Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on November 25, last year accusing her of inciting people to sell their land. Local communities are involved in long-running land disputes with sugar companies, involving more than 800 hectares of land, and have been subject to evictions. Nherng and Lin were charged with the defamation, while Phon was acquitted. Thong Chan Dara, the provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, said the charges are related to their protests to protect their land.

On 2 August 2023, the Koh Kong Provincial Court found land activists Phav Nheung and Seng Lin guilty of defamation and incitement to commit serious social disorder, and sentenced them to one year in prison and a 40 million riel fine, about $9,600.