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Monday, September 24, 2018, 12:18
Aussie filmmaker freed from Cambodia jail arrives in Sydney
By Reuters
Monday, September 24, 2018, 12:18 By Reuters

Australian filmmaker James Ricketson, third left, walks with his daughter Roxanne Holmes, second left, after his arrival at Sydney International Airport, Sept 23, 2018. Ricketson arrived two days after his 15-month stint in a Phnom Penh prison ended with clemency granted by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni. (DEAN LEWINS / AAP IMAGE VIA AP)

MELBOURNE - An Australian filmmaker arrived in Sydney on Sunday after a pardon by Cambodia's king released him from a six-year jail sentence for espionage that he received after flying a drone over an opposition rally. 

Ricketson, who spent more than a year behind bars, denied the charges and sought a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni

James Ricketson, 69, was last month found guilty of spying and collecting information harmful to the nation following a trial that was criticized by rights activists. 

His arrest in June 2017, after he flew the drone above a rally by the now-dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), came amid a wider crackdown on freedom of expression by the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen. 

Ricketson, who spent more than a year behind bars, denied the charges and sought a pardon from King Norodom Sihamoni. On Friday, he was released from Phnom Penh's Prey Sar prison. 

ALSO READ: Pardoned Australian filmmaker to be deported from Cambodia

Greeted by family and friends at Sydney airport, he told reporters he planned to return to Cambodia. 

"I'll be going back as soon as I can but I'll need to recover obviously," Ricketson said. 

His family thanked the king for bringing their "nightmare" to an end. Australia's foreign ministry also thanked Cambodia for the release of Ricketson, who has been visiting Cambodia for more than 20 years. 

In a letter to Hun Sen last month, the filmmaker apologized for statements to media that were disrespectful to the long-serving prime minister. 

READ MORE: Cambodian court jails Australian filmmaker for espionage

In July, Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) claimed victory following a general election in which it was largely unopposed. Rights groups said the vote was neither free nor fair given the absence of a significant challenger to Hun Sen, who has ruled for 33 years.

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