JAMES RICKETSON conviction

Labor is deeply concerned by the conviction and severity of the sentence handed down to James Ricketson.

The 69-year-old Australian filmmaker was found guilty by a Cambodian court on Friday of espionage and sentenced to six years in prison.

 

Mr Ricketson has already spent 14 months in prison after he was arrested for flying a drone above an opposition party rally in June last year.

 

Mr Ricketson’s family are understandably deeply concerned about his conviction, and the impact this will have on his health.

 

Throughout Mr Ricketson’s detention Labor has raised his case with the Government. We sought and received an updated briefing from Foreign Minister Payne and DFAT, and understand Mr Ricketson’s family are now seeking his release on humanitarian grounds.

 

The Government has indicated its willingness to support any plea for clemency. Labor supports this and ongoing Australian Government engagement with Cambodian counterparts to raise concerns over the case and secure his release.

 

Labor has been clear in its criticism of the recent actions of the Cambodian regime, condemning its continuing anti-democratic crackdown on political and press freedoms.