The Supreme Court of Cambodia has upheld the guilty verdict of a lower-court against three Cambodian environmental activists over their involvement in a 2015 anti-sand dredging campaign in Koh-Kong province.
San Mala, Try Sovikear, and Sim Samnang of the environmental group Mother Nature, were arrested in August 2015 following a complaint by the sand dredging company Direct Access for causing damage and threatening company staff. The trio have consistently denied the allegations and insist the sand-dredging activity lacked transparency and was tainted by corruption. The verdict upholds the original sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.
