Phnom penh: A Cambodian appeals court has upheld the 27-year prison sentence of former opposition leader Kem Sokha on charges of treason, marking another setback for the already weakened opposition political group amid a continued crackdown by the ruling party.

According to Thai News Agency, Kem Sokha, 72, co-founder of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party, has been under house arrest since his conviction in March 2023. He was accused of conspiring with foreign entities to overthrow then-Prime Minister Hun Sen. Alongside upholding the original verdict, the court also imposed a five-year travel ban on Sokha post his release, as noted by his legal team.

The defendant's lawyer expressed regret over the court's decision, emphasizing that the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) government should pursue national reconciliation. The lawyer stated that the ruling was not the outcome they had anticipated.

The case of Kem Sokha is one of the most significant in the CPP's ongoing crackdown on political dissidents, with the party maintaining control over Cambodia for more than four decades. The US government previously criticized the conviction, alleging that it was based on contrived conspiracy theories. Sokha remained one of the few opposition leaders still in Cambodia, as many others fled the country to evade arrest after the Supreme Court dissolved the Cambodia National Rescue Party in 2017, ahead of an election in which the party was poised to be a major contender.

Several Western embassies in Cambodia have expressed disappointment with the ruling. The United Kingdom has called for Kem Sokha's release to aid in strengthening democracy in Cambodia. German Ambassador to Cambodia, Stefan Messerer, commented on the X platform that the verdict failed to address longstanding concerns about the judicial process. Australian Ambassador to Cambodia, Derek Yip, described the ruling as extremely disappointing and urged Cambodia to enhance civil society and foster conditions for truly competitive elections.