Journalist Sued For Report On Online Gambling in Oddar Meanchey Province
The publisher of online media Thgnai Thmy has been sued for incitement to discrimination following a report on buildings owned by “powerful individuals”, which had allegedly been rented out for illegal online gambling operations in Oddar Meanchey province.
According to a court warrant issued on September 16, 2024, the publisher was ordered to appear in Phnom Penh Municipal Court on October 21 to be questioned on the accusation of incitement to discrimination.
The warrant showed that the complaint against the outlet was made by a person named Vong Seyha on September 9, 2024. According to the journalist, Vong Seyha is known as a representative of tycoon Lim Heng, owner of Royal Hill Resort and Casino.
On August 25, 2024, the media outlet published a report saying that the building was inside the compound of a casino allegedly owned by tycoons Lim Heng and Ly Yong Phat.
Based on the report, the compound, which is located near O'Smach international border checkpoint in Oddar Meanchey province, is being rented to Chinese nationals to operate illegal online gambling under the casino license.
The report further described that thousands of illegal foreign immigrants were confined in the compound and forced to work on online gambling sites.
Meanwhile, the media publisher asserted that the article produced by his reporter was based on facts, and it had been reviewed and checked before publishing.
The publisher said the case should be dealt with by the press law, which stipulates correction rather than the use of legal action. However, he said, he and his reporter will appear in court on October 21.
The journalist, who wrote the article, said the information was based on interviews with villagers who live near the buildings.