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MELBOURNE (Reuters) – The family of an Australian filmmaker pardoned after being jailed on spying charges said Saturday he was happy the "nightmare" ended, while the Australian foreign minister thanked the government of Phnom Penh.
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson makes a gesture when he leaves Phnom Penh City Court in Cambodia on August 16, 2018. REUTERS / Samrang Pring
James Ricketson, 69, was released Friday from Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh after a court sentenced him in August to six years in prison for damaging the country's reputation.
He was arrested in June 2017 after being photographed piloting a drone over a rally organized by the National Rescue Party of Cambodia (CNRP), now dissolved, before the communal elections.
"We are so relieved and excited about this news," Ricketson's son Jesse told Reuters.
"It still has not been very concrete. The last 16 months have been very difficult and I am in a kind of shock at the moment. We would like to offer our greatest gratitude to King Norodom Sihamoni for showing us compassion and putting an end to this nightmare.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne also thanked her Cambodian counterpart for the release. "This puts an end to a time of distress for Mr. Ricketson and his family," Payne said in a statement sent by email.
Jesse Ricketson said the family was worried about his father's health at the age of 70.
"We do not know how long he could have continued to endure the conditions of the famous Prey Sar prison," he said.
He added that the family was waiting for Ricketson in Australia "very soon", probably Sunday.
The filmmaker has been visiting Cambodia for more than 20 years and produces documentaries about the country and its people.
His arrest came as part of a massive crackdown on freedom of expression by the Hun Sen government and its Cambodian People's Party (CPP). In July, the CPP claimed victory after a controversial general election, largely unopposed.
Human rights groups said the July 29 vote was neither free nor fair given the lack of a major challenger for Hun Sen, who ruled for 33 years.
Payne said Saturday that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would continue to provide consular assistance to Ricketson, but because of "confidentiality considerations," he would make no further statements upon his release.
Additional report by Len Leng in PHNOM PENH and Colin Packham in MELBOURNE; Edited by Nick Macfie
