King lifts Kem Sokha’s five-year travel ban following Hun Manet’s request

On July 24, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni signed a royal decree, following a request from Prime Minister Hun Manet, granting former Cambodia National Rescue Party president Kem Sokha a pardon that lifts the additional five-year penalty barring him from leaving the country.
According to the royal decree, this pardon concerns only the additional travel ban and does not cover other additional penalties. Kem Sokha has regained eligibility to leave the country in accordance with the law, while the other additional restrictions still being enforced remain effective.
Previously, on May 25, 2026, Hun Sen, then acting head of state and president of the Senate, signed a royal decree pardoning Kem Sokha’s 27-year prison sentence for treason. Because that pardon covered only the principal sentence, additional penalties such as the travel ban were not lifted, and Kem Sokha remained subject to those restrictions.
On July 24, following Hun Manet’s request, the King signed another royal decree formally lifting the additional travel ban. Kem Sokha must still comply with other additional restrictions, including the prohibition on political activity.
Publicly available information shows that Kem Sokha was arrested by police on September 3, 2017, on suspicion of colluding with foreign powers. Prosecutors subsequently charged him with treason under Article 443 of the Criminal Code. In 2023, the trial court found him guilty of treason, sentenced him to 27 years in prison and imposed additional restrictions.
On April 30, 2026, the Phnom Penh Court of Appeal upheld the original judgment and ordered continued enforcement of the additional penalties, including a ban on leaving the country for the following five years. With the royal decree taking effect, the additional travel ban imposed on Kem Sokha has been lifted, while other additional restrictions, including the ban on political activity, continue to apply.