Cambodian Journalist Arrested for Exposing Cyberscams

Mech Dara, an acclaimed Cambodian journalist known for his work on human trafficking and corruption, has been arrested and charged with incitement.

His charges stem from five social media posts alleged to incite unrest, and he faces up to two years in prison. Dara, who has reported for the BBC, was honored by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for exposing online scam operations in Cambodia.

Rights groups have condemned his arrest, and the US Embassy in Cambodia expressed its concern, calling the news "deeply troubling."

journalist Mech Dara was arrested at a highway toll booth in Koh Kong province by military police and was held without known whereabouts for nearly 24 hours.

He was charged in Phnom Penh with incitement over social media posts that allegedly edited pictures of a tourist attraction to incite anger against the government.

The vague incitement charge is often used against critics in Cambodia. Dara, honored for his work on human trafficking, faces six months to two years in prison and was denied access to a lawyer. Rights groups and his family have expressed concern.