AP

Cambodian dissident dresses up as ‘Lady Justice’ for trial

May 2, 2022, 3:01 PM | Updated: May 3, 2022, 3:06 am

Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", shou...

Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", shouts slogans outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Tuesday is the the final day of hearings for her trial on treason and a related charge for which she could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

(AP Photo/Heng Sinith)


              Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", talks to media outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Tuesday is the the final day of hearings for her trial on treason and a related charge for which she could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
            
              Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", talks to media outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Tuesday is the the final day of hearings for her trial on treason and a related charge for which she could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
            
              Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", stands outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Tuesday is the the final day of hearings for her trial on treason and a related charge for which she could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
            
              Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", walks outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Tuesday is the the final day of hearings for her trial on treason and a related charge for which she could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
            
              Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", reads a document to media outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Tuesday is the the final day of hearings for her trial on treason and a related charge for which she could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
            
              Cambodian-American lawyer Theary Seng, dressed in a pageant costume that reads "Lady Justice", shouts slogans outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, May 3, 2022. Tuesday is the the final day of hearings for her trial on treason and a related charge for which she could receive a prison sentence of up to 12 years. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — An outspoken critic of Cambodia’s government dressed up as “Lady Justice,” complete with scale and blindfold, to bring attention to her case as lawyers in her trial for treason presented their final arguments Tuesday.

Theary Seng, a Cambodian American lawyer, is charged with conspiracy to commit treason and incitement to commit a felony, which together carry a maximum jail sentence of 12 years. The charges arose from a failed attempt by leading opposition figure Sam Rainsy to return to Cambodia in November 2019, after a period of self-exile. Cambodian authorities, who opposed his return, alleged Theary Seng was involved in organizing the trip, which she denies.

Four other defendants being tried on the same charges are former members and activists of the dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, of which Sam Rainsy was co-founder. Theary Seng denies belonging to the party.

“I am not afraid of prison. I am ready. I am prepared to go to prison if this dictatorial, autocratic regime continues with its injustice against justice itself. So I am not afraid of prison,” Theary Seng told journalists outside the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Cambodia’s Supreme Court in 2017 ordered the Cambodia National Rescue Party to be dissolved for allegedly plotting to seize power, but it is widely believed the action was taken to help ensure that Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party would win the 2018 general election. His ruling party made a clean sweep of the National Assembly seats.

Opponents of Hun Sen, who has been in power for 37 years, criticize him for acting in an autocratic manner and keeping the opposition on a tight leash. He has said he intends to stay in office until 2028 and has endorsed one of his sons to be his successor.

To publicize her case, Theary Seng dressed on Tuesday as Lady Justice, a symbol of law who is traditionally depicted as a Roman goddess bearing a sword and a balancing scale and wearing a blindfold and flowers in her hair. On previous trial days, she had dressed up in a prison-style orange outfit with ankle shackles and as a classical Cambodian Apsara dancer, telling reporters she was expressing her belief that the trial was “political theater.”

She did not attend Tuesday’s court hearing when a security guard refused to let her in unless she removed the flowers from her hair and left the sword and scale outside the courtroom. She stayed outside with supporters and reporters and let her lawyer represent her.

“I am ‘Lady Justice.’ This autocratic regime is putting justice itself on trial. This autocratic regime uses the court as its weapon,” said Theary Seng, who graduated from University of Michigan Law School in the United States. “It is unjust when the law is not based on justice. My weapon is truth. Truth is eternal. … Truth is freedom.”

Her lawyer, Choung Chou Ngy, said the court is expected to deliver its verdict on June 14.

In a related case in March, the court convicted 21 people of treason and related charges for their nonviolent political opposition to Cambodia’s government. Seven exiled leaders of the disbanded Cambodia National Rescue Party received 10-year prison terms in absentia, including Sam Rainsy, who has been in exile since 2016. Another 13 defendants were ordinary party supporters whom the court ordered to serve more than three years.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

2 days ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

2 days ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

2 days ago

islamic state attack...

Vanessa Gera, The Associated Press

What we know after the Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow massacre

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people.

5 days ago

Moscow shooting...

The Associated Press

Russia: 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility

Assailants burst into a concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people, injuring more than 100.

7 days ago

Photo: Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visits 282 (East Ham) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, Cornwel...

Associated Press

Kate Middleton announces she has cancer, is undergoing chemotherapy

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, says she is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer. She has been out of view since Christmas.

7 days ago

Cambodian dissident dresses up as ‘Lady Justice’ for trial