Major Meng Vichetr, deputy chief of Phnom Penh municipal internal security police office, said yesterday police arrested Sovann Rithy over a post on his Facebook page which claimed Mr HE has said if taxi motorbike drivers did not have money they should sell off their motorbikes because the government was unable to help them.

He said Rithy was arrested at about 7pm in Sen Sok district’s Phnom Penh Thmey commune.

“The premier did not say what was quoted by Rithy. He reinterpreted Mr HE’s statement and posted it on his Facebook page,” Maj Vichetr said. “Rithy’s post affected the government’s hard work in preventing the virus pandemic and the peoples’ welfare. It made people misunderstand the government’s policies in fighting COVID-19.”

He said Rithy also posted a photo of a man believed to be a taxi motorbike driver leaning on his bike under the rain in Phnom Penh.

Maj Vichetr said Rithy is accused of “incitement to commit felony” under Article 495 of the Criminal Code. If found guilty, he faces up to two years in prison and a fine of between $250 and $1,000. Rithy is now being questioned at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.