Malaysia arrests, deports maid for criticising Cambodia leaders on social media

A Cambodia prison official and an opposition activist group said on Thursday that Nuon Toeun, 36, who had worked in Malaysia for several years, was arrested last week by Malaysian authorities following a request from the Cambodian government.

Freedom House, a US-based organisation that promotes democracy, says the practice of attacking or sending back exiled dissidents “is becoming a ‘normal’ phenomenon as more governments around the world use it to silence dissent”.

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Nuth Sovana, a spokesperson for Cambodia’s prison department, said Nuon Toeun was detained at Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh upon her arrival in Cambodia on Tuesday. She was charged with incitement to commit a felony or cause social disorder and incitement to discriminate on the basis of race religion or nationality, he said. He could not provide details of the offences she was accused of committing.

If convicted on both charges, she could face five years in prison and a fine.