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Cambodian journalist freed on bail after apologizing for 'harmful' posts

by Reuters

   An award-winning Cambodian journalist who was arrested on charges of
   inciting social unrest was freed on bail on Thursday, a day after the
   government released a video of the investigative reporter apologizing.

   Mech Dara, who is known for exposing corruption and human trafficking,
   had been held in pre-trial detention since Oct. 1, and faces up to two
   years in prison. His arrest drew concern from rights groups and the
   U.S. government.

   In its Oct. 1 decision, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court said Dara, who
   has worked for local and international media, had posted "provocative"
   and "false" messages and pictures about a rock quarry on a sacred
   mountain.

   Dara spoke briefly to reporters outside the Kandal provincial jail
   before leaving in a vehicle. He thanked civil society groups and
   embassies for helping to facilitate his release.

   "I am very thankful to everyone and to all my friends, both local and
   international, who did everything to support and help me to be
   released," Dara said.

   Dara received a hero award last year from U.S. Secretary of State
   Antony Blinken, recognizing his work exposing the existence of massive
   scam compounds staffed mostly by trafficked workers in Cambodia.

   At the time of Dara's arrest, the U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh said it
   was "deeply troubled" by the detention of an internationally respected
   journalist and urged his release.

   On Wednesday, Cambodia's information minister shared with journalists a
   video of Dara wearing prison garb and apologizing. It was accompanied
   by images of a handwritten three-page letter the minister said was from
   the journalist.

   "In all the messages that I posted, I conveyed false information that
   affected the leaders and the country's reputation. I sincerely
   apologize for my mistakes and promise to stop sharing such harmful
   content," Dara said in the video.

   Reuters is a news agency founded in 1851 and owned by the Thomson
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