What treason charge stemmed from the journalists’ Facebook photo posting?

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Cambodia’s Supreme Court upheld a treason conviction tied to a Facebook photo showing them with soldiers at Ta Krabei temple
The treason charge stemmed from the journalists posting a Facebook photo taken in a military-restricted area after border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand. The charge was for “supplying a foreign state with information prejudicial to national defence”, based on the circumstances surrounding the image. Cambodia’s Supreme Court later rejected their final appeal and upheld their 14-year prison sentences.
The photo was posted after border clashes and taken in a restricted area
Pheap Phara and Phorn Sopheap were arrested in July after they posted a photo on Facebook that appeared to show them with Cambodian soldiers at Ta Krabei temple. The temple is on the disputed frontier with Thailand, and the photo was taken in a military-restricted area. The case then moved through the courts, culminating in the Supreme Court’s decision.
The treason wording tied to “supplying a foreign state” information
Both journalists were convicted and sentenced in December for “supplying a foreign state with information prejudicial to national defence”. This formulation was the legal basis for the treason conviction connected to the Facebook post. Their later appeal efforts were aimed at overturning that conviction.
Their final appeal was rejected by Cambodia’s Supreme Court
After an appeal court upheld the convictions in March, the two journalists made a final appeal to Cambodia’s highest court. Deputy chief of the Supreme Court Taing Sunlay said the Supreme Court rejected the appeal. The result was that the 14-year prison terms remained in place.
The image was republished by Thai media with allegations about the background
The Facebook photo later circulated further when Thai media outlets republished the image. Those outlets alleged the background showed unplaced landmines. While the Supreme Court upheld the treason verdict, the charge itself was specifically framed around supplying information prejudicial to national defence.

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What treason charge stemmed from the journalists’ Facebook photo posting?

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