Facebook influencer Puts on Surveillance

By Ly Heng

Phnom Penh, Cambodia — Facebook influencer Sangly Sarak, who has two million followers on his Facebook page Business Advisor, was recently granted bail, placed under supervision by the court on charges of inciting serious disorder to public security under articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code due to his activism in educating young people to think critically about issues that have arisen in society. This rule has drawn heavy criticism, with two observers criticizing it as reflecting a criminal leadership style that needs to be reformed under the constitution.

Many reports indicate that Mr. Sangly Sarak was arrested by Kandal provincial authorities on 27th and released on March 31, 2025, after four-day detention. He owns a Facebook account Business Advisor. Mr. Sangly Sarak posted little information on his account after being released from detention on 31st. He said that authorities asked him to explain the content he posted. He is now safe back home.
However, Mr. Sangly Sarak is still place under judicial supervision from March 30, 2025 onward. Mr. Sangly Sarak aged 31, was questioned by the investigating judge of the Kandal Provincial Court, Sean Nara.

Mr. Sangly Sarak is under surveillance for his act of inciting serious disorder to social security and punished in accordance with articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code. The court imposed four conditions on him include 1) during this period of being released on bail, he must not change his residence without the permission of the investigating judge, 2) he must respond to summons from all persons designated by the judge, and 3) he must not leave Cambodia 4) he shall appear before the authorities at Takhmao Police Station, Takhmao City, Kandal Province, every first week of each month. Mr. Sangly Sarak agree to comply the order.

Mr. Sangly Sarak would not comment on this matter but he who often posts messages to cultivate the mindset of young people to think deeply about the dangers of alcohol consumption, illicit drug and territorial integrity issues. His Facebook account has gained nearly 2 million followers. Some messages that Sangly Sarak posted before his arrest suggested that siblings may have bad ideas about each other, those to the east and west of our house, how can we trust them? The same thing has happened to Cambodian citizens as well as famous content producers, such as Ms. Kanitha, who often produced news content who spreads knowledge to Cambodian children both at home and abroad. There have also been direct and indirect threats against her. She has produced some content in Cambodian society, including a video apologizing to the two prime ministers in public.

The Cambodian Watchdog Council, Men Nat, said that there is nothing wrong with the account owner’s statement, even though he earns some income from social media. But he said that on the contrary, it is the leaders who are at fault. He said that the fault lies in the fact that the government did not encourage those who provided knowledge to the people to be knowledgeable and think deeply for the benefit of the nation and to serve the people’s rice bowl.

He emphasized that this rule encourages criminals who are defrauding citizens and encourages countries with ambitions to swallow Cambodian territory through the Cambodian authorities’ handcuffs to cover up the truth, according to Men Nath.
“Current leaders are cruel. When cruel people lead, they lead like big brothers. They don’t let good people be their partners. Anyone who talks about social justice or good education is eliminated.” said Men Nath. “But that’s the nature of criminals leading the country,” he said. With such a political line, the people will continue to suffer for many years if there is no change. When the people have such leaders, they find it difficult to do business.

For example, if you are farming, you have difficulty selling your products, buying land, and you are being abused, confiscated, and people borrow money from banks to invest with wealthy people, like this and that group of tycoons, and they cheated you. Some people died because of all this and never receive justice from society.

Mr. Am Samath, the director in charge of general affairs of the human rights organization Licadho said that, the arrest and detention measures would be made against some people who actively share information that has occurred in society to improve the inaction of public officials and for the benefit of educating citizens, which affects freedom of expression and freedom of access to information.

He pointed out that social media has now become an important place to express opinions. However, if this freedom is threatened, citizens will no longer dare to express their opinions. Then social problems will increase. He would like to see relevant authorities as well as the courts distinguish between them.
“On the other hand, Cambodia is a country that adheres to a liberal, multi-party democracy, a country that adheres to a democratic, free and democratic society.” In the fundamental expression of ideas, democracy, freedom of expression plays an important role in promoting the development of democracy. Therefore, freedom of expression should be promoted and fully provided for “the right to control expression according to national and international law that Cambodia has recognized must be clearly distinguished between freedom of expression and crime,” said Mr. Um Samath.