Two local-Khmer newspapers journalists were arrested by municipal police on January 13 following Vang SreyNo,Karaoke actress and singer, filed a complaint with municipal anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection bureau against a man for extortion. She claimed that the man called her to make an appointment in order to show sex video clip that he said that the female actor in video clip is her having sex with foreign man.
The both journalists were apprehended by police following they met and gave her the midi-memory card recorded sex video clip at Phnom Penh pagoda. Until now, the both journalists have been detained in the custody of the police pending decision from senior leaders.
Keo Thea claimed that girl who has sex with a man in video clip is alike Vang SreyNo but it was not her because there were many different scars of her teeth, mouth and forehead and so on. He concluded that the girl in video is Asian foreigner who is similar to Korean or Japanese national.
Pen Somithy, CCJ president, said that he is against the arrest of journalists on journalism duty. He appealed to authorities to free the both journalists if there are no enough evident to reveal that the both extorted money from movie actress. He also took this opportunity to call for all colleagues as journalists to comply with code of ethics as journalists and avoid using their role in wrong way that spoils reputation of fellow journalist in Cambodia. He added that “journalist should not be arrested during the duty of professional journalism.†But we have to take responsibility for society, so we have to comply with code of ethics as journalist. The report was quoted by Rasmei Kampuchea Daily.
According to late updated news, three editors were arrested, not two, including Kaing Samnang, 37, editor-in-chief of Sangket Kar newspapers; Chan Chhai Yuth,36, editor-in-chief of Samaki Cheat and Kuch Kunthea,41, editor-in-chief of Sangkum Cheat.
I don’t believe in arresting journalist for “unknowingly” mis-reporting the news. “Tabloids” are everywhere, especially in America and Britain. Most of these so called news are either fabricated and sensationalistic. However, none of these reporters should be arrested for reporting celebrity news.
In this particular case, it involves black-mail and extortion. As a result, it is beyond the realm of journalism, and into criminal behavior. The latter should be fully prosecuted.