Bangkok, June 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes justice for Cambodian journalist Chhoeung Chheng, whose killer, Sy Loeuy, was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison by a Siem Reap provincial court on May 28, according to multiple press reports. The ruling was made public June 5, the reports said.
Described as a local farmer and woodworker in reports, Loeuy was also ordered to pay a 55 million riel (US$13,500) fine to Chheng’s family.
“The conviction and sentencing of Chhoeung Chheng’s must herald an end to the chronic violence and intimidation faced by journalists in Cambodia,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “Authorities should build on this rule-of-law milestone by protecting reporters who cover the environment.”
Loeuy shot Chheng, a reporter for the local Kampuchea Aphivath news site, on December 4, 2024, while he was investigating reports of illegal logging in Siem Riep’s Boeung Per Wildlife Sanctuary. Chheng died of his injuries shortly after the attack.
CPJ has documented other cases in Cambodia in which environmental reporters have been killed and denied entry in connection with their work, as well as the arrest and temporary detention of reporter Ouk Mao last month.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Information did not respond to CPJ’s emailed request for comment.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by CPJ Staff.