The Phnom Penh Municipal Court arrested and charged yesterday a local official of the Candlelight Party (CP) accused of allegedly copying three fingerprints and signatures to register the names as commune reserved candidates of the CP in Daun Penh district.

The accused, Khem Chanvannak, 45, the Acting Chief Representative and Executive Chief of the Candlelight Party for Por Senchey district, was charged on two counts of “forgery of public document and the use of forged public document” under Articles 627, 628 and 629 of the Criminal Code.

If convicted, he faces between five to ten years in prison.

Colonel Sam Vicheka, the Spokesman at the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, said yesterday that the court deputy prosecutor issued the arrest warrant for Chanvannak who was arrested on January 15.

Chanvannak is being sued by three former CP officials who claim that their fingerprints and signatures were copied and used to register their names as reserved candidates for councillors of Phsar Thmey III commune without their knowledge on November 7, 2023.

“He was arrested after police experts examined the fingerprints and signatures and found that they were copied by Khem Chanvannak,” Col Vicheka said.

“After his arrest, police sent him to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday for questioning,” he said.

Col Vicheka denied that the Chanvannak’s arrest was politically motivated.

“The arrest of Khem Chanvannak was according to the law and there were no other reasons related to threats or persecution by political activists,” he said.

“The police refute the accusations by the Candlelight Party that police acted without due cause on January 15,”he added.

The CP on Monday issued a statement condemning Phnom Penh authorities and alleged that the arrest of Chanvannak was an attempt at intimidation and to demoralise the people and manipulate the political environment before the Senate Election and the capital, provincial, city and district council elections this year.

• Tags: Candlelight Party