Journalist threatened by district governor with legal action for reporting on illegal construction
Description
On November 8, a journalist from Koh Santepheap News [Choam Pisamay] was verbally intimidated by Battambang Province, Ek Phnom District’s governor, who threatened to take legal action against him after he reported on illegal construction polluting the Steung Sanke river.
The report criticized the governor’s decision to allow individual businesses to fill parts of the river.
He was told by district authorities that the governor was seeking evidence to sue him for disseminating fake news. He said after his reporting, someone called him, offering money in exchange for removing the article, but he refused.
A statement from the district authority posted on Facebook page denied the report, claiming that it was fake news.
Information
Number of attacked persons or entities related to media
1
Do they work as freelance or media?
Yes
Position in media
Status of journalists
Gender
Male
Age
Country
Battambang
Full name or name of group
Unidentified
Background (state actor or non state actor)
Gender
Attack mention about gender background/sexual wording?
No
Date of incident
Type of incident
Verbal Intimidation
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Interviewed by CamboJA