TA KHMAU, Cambodia — An investigative journalist in Cambodia, who faced criminal charges for uncovering online scams and corruption, was granted bail on Thursday.
Mech Dara, after leaving the Kandal Provincial Prison complex located south of Phnom Penh, spoke to reporters from inside a vehicle. He appeared visibly unwell, describing himself as having minor health issues, and expressed gratitude to those who supported him, saying, “I thank you everyone for helping me, supporting me.”
His release came at the request of his legal representative during a session at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. Dara acknowledged the necessity to continue battling his case in court moving forward. He briefly joined his hands in a gesture of respect and indicated that he had not yet made a decision about his future, declining to discuss whether he would return to his work as an investigative journalist.
The day before his release, a media outlet aligned with the government, Fresh News, aired a video featuring Mech Dara in an orange prison uniform. In this minute-long clip, he apologized to both Prime Minister Hun Manet and former Prime Minister Hun Sen, currently the president of the Senate. During the video, he confessed to having shared five instances of misinformation previously deemed damaging to Cambodia and its leadership, pledging to refrain from similar actions in the future.
Mech Dara has been charged with incitement to commit a felony or inciting social disorder, which could result in a prison term ranging from six months to two years. His arrest, which took place on September 30, has been widely criticized by fellow journalists and international organizations that advocate for press freedom and human rights.
Approximately forty Cambodian media-related organizations and civil society groups released a united statement demanding Mech Dara’s immediate release and urging the cessation of all forms of intimidation against journalists and media outlets. The U.S. State Department also expressed its strong concern regarding his arrest, highlighting that Mech Dara was honored last year with the Trafficking in Persons Report Hero award for his commendable efforts in journalism.