Teen Remains Jailed Over Social Media Comments Criticizing Father's Political Opponent

The son of a Cambodian activist remains in jail for comments he made on social media criticizing the government, the Associated Press reported.

Kak Sovannchhay, 16, the autistic son of jailed political activist Kak Komphear, was arrested last week on charges of incitement to commit a felony and public insult. The arrest came after a Telegram chat group showed him making remarks defending his father. He also previously shared posts criticizing current Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Authorities previously said that Sovannchhay would be released on November 8. However, they later told his mother, Prum Chantha, that his release was delayed.

"My son would have been feeling so excited when hearing he would be freed today and knowing that I was here with the others to welcome him, but now they're keeping him in jail for two more days," she told reporters. "Why would the court keep him in jail?"

Sovannchhay's autism has also been a contentious factor in the case. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court claims that medical confirmation of his autism was received during his trial. However, critics are accusing the court of refusing to evaluate his disability and support needs.

"Penalizing a boy with mental disabilities because of the activities of his father shows just how far the human rights situation in Cambodia has deteriorated," Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said.

Kak Sovannchhay is expected to be released from jail on November 10.

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

Prum Chantha told disappointed supporters who had gathered with her early in the day outside Prey Sar prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh that authorities said her son's time served had been miscounted.

Kak Sovannchhay was sentenced to eight months in prison but he had been in custody since June. Under Cambodian sentencing guidelines including credit for time served, he was scheduled for release this week and the family had been told it would take place Monday.

Many criticized the verdict, including U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy, who said in a Twitter post that the case seemed to be "politically motivated."

"How does jailing the teenage son of an opposition figure demonstrate respect for human rights?" Murphy wrote.

Prum Chantha is a member of the group Friday Wives, which holds protests to demand the release of their husbands who have been jailed for expressing their views critical of Hun Sen's government.

She said Monday that she had no intention of backing down, despite her son's prosecution.

"The authorities wanted to intimidate us and wanted us to stop opposing them," she said.

The posts the teen made came in response to others calling his father a traitor, she said.

Hun Sen has been in power for 36 years and has often been accused of heading an authoritarian regime and using the judicial system to help stifle opposition.