Photo Showing Hun Sen and His Wife in Prison Uniform Altered

Photos of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his family are frequently edited and shared on social media. Meanwhile, a photo showing Cambodian PM, Hun Sen, and his wife, Bun Rany, in a prison uniform was posted on Facebook recently. This photo was reacted with mixed comments and shared by many Facebook users who are speaking Khmer. However, after running a Google Reverse Image search, it proves that the photo above was altered.

This is about our investigation of this photo.

Social Media Claim

On December 22, 2021, one of the Facebook users posted a photo showing a view of Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife, Bun Rany, in prison uniforms. This photo received mixed reactions from users and was distributed many times by Facebook users who are speaking Khmer.

The following screenshot was captured from the Facebook user's post which translates in English as​ “Win as king, lose as a thief, climb fish, eat ants, water at least ants eat fish. Nothing lasts forever, today you have the power to beat them, the next day they will beat you and your family back”.

Facebook Post | Archived Link

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo Cambodia had started to check and verify this photo directly by running a Google Reverse Image search, which brought us to the sources containing the following photos.

An exact photo of the same shape and form was found on the Deum Tnot News website published on January 19, 2018. The following image is a screenshot captured from the news media website which does not show the view of Prime Minister Hun Sen and his wife wearing prison uniform at all.

Deum Tnot News Report | Archived Link

On April 26, 2017, Khmer Unity also published the view of Meach Sovannara and Ouk Pich Samnang taken to the Court of Appeal on April 25, 2017, as well. The following is an image from the website of the newspaper that wrote, Mr. Meach Sovannara and the 10 CNRP activists, including Oeun Narin, Khin Roeun (Khin Chamroeun), Neang Sokhun, San Kimheng, Su Puthy, Ke Khim (Wendy), Tep Narin, An Pathom (Sokhom), San Sihak and Mr. Ouk Pich Samnang on July 21, 2015 sentenced to 7 to 20 years in prison by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in connection with the violence in “Near Freedom Park in July 2014”.

Khmer Unity Link | Archived Lin

Similarly, according to the website of Grand News Asia, published on April 26, 2017, it also shows the scene of Meach Sovannara raising his arms and Ouk Pich Samnang in a prisoner's uniform. The following is an image from the website above that reads and translates in English as “The Court of Appeal has decided to the trial of Meach Sovannara, along with 10 other opposition activists involved in the violence on the Dragon Bridge near Freedom Park in 2014”.

Grand News Asia Report | Archived Link

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You may find the details of this fact-check in Khmer language here as well.

Conclusion

Fact Crescendo Cambodia has found that the photo posted and claimed by the above Facebook user was altered. It had been edited before it was posted on social media. This original image was taken when Mr. Meach Sovannara and Mr. Ouk Pich Samnang were coming to the Court of Appeal on April 25, 2017.