PHNOM PENH—Labor and political activist Rong Chhun has once again been sentenced to prison, receiving a four-year term on charges of incitement to disturb social order. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on May 5 also stripped him of his right to vote and run for public office and imposed a $1,000 fine.

Chhun’s latest conviction stems from his public remarks on Cambodia’s online fraud industry and longstanding concerns about the Cambodia-Vietnam border.

According to rights group LICADHO, the court applied Article 88 of the Criminal Code, which allows for a prison sentence to be doubled if the offender is convicted again within five years.

Chhun was previously arrested on July 31, 2020, at his Phnom Penh home on charges of incitement to cause serious social unrest. The arrest followed his statements regarding alleged Vietnamese encroachment on the Cambodia-Vietnam border.

In August 2021, he was sentenced to two years in prison. The Appeal Court later reduced his sentence to 15 months, with the remainder suspended under a three-year probation order. He was released on bail.

On November 9, 2023, Chhun left the now-dissolved opposition Candlelight Party to join the Nation Power Party (NPP), saying he aimed to pursue “true democracy” in the lead-up to the 2027 and 2028 elections. He currently serves as an advisor to the NPP.

Choung Chou Ngy, Chhun’s lawyer, said the doubled sentence was linked to his recent political activities, including visits to Boeung Tamok, the site of the new Techo International Airport, and the inauguration of the NPP’s headquarters.

In a video posted in July 2024, Chhun addressed NPP members and criticized the government for ignoring issues of human rights and democracy.

“There’s no order from the court regarding his arrest, but he has the right to appeal,” Choung Chou Ngy said. “My client has yet to make the decision.”

In issuing the sentence, the court cited Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code and imposed the maximum two-year sentence for incitement—then doubled it under Article 88.

Rong Chhun could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

Separately, in April, he was ordered to forcibly sell his home in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district to pay nearly $100,000 in compensation to the State Secretariat of Border Affairs. The fine relates to damages stemming from a 2021 court ruling that had not yet been settled.

Choung Chou Ngy said his client had earlier attempted to make a partial deposit toward the compensation, but the court rejected the offer without providing a clear explanation.

“My client has no other means to challenge the court’s order and is waiting for further update,” he said.