Chea Chantha, a local leader of the informal worker group Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), was sent to pre-trial detention by the Svay Rieng Provincial Court on Friday evening after he was arrested on 16 July while talking to workers about accessing the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Chantha attended a workshop on Tuesday discussing climate change and social protections in Bavet, Svay Rieng. Later, he met with workers and was talking about the NSSF, a government social service, when police arrested him.

After being held for two days by police, Chantha appeared in court Thursday and was questioned. He was charged on Friday under Article 377 and 378 for fraud and Article 610 for conducting “activities causing misapprehension with the discharge of public functions” and sent to pretrial detention on Friday evening. If convicted, Chantha faces up to three years in prison.

IDEA works with informal workers and advocates for better living and work conditions, including improving access to government services. This includes disseminating information about registering and accessing benefits from the NSSF, which is a government-run program guaranteeing workers access to medical services and disability benefits.