INTERNATIONAL: Australian economist Sean Turnell may be hoping to be released from custody by Myanmar's military junta after Myanmar military leader Senior general Min Aung Hlaing has met with Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday, 7 Jannuary.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia, Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhon has stated at a press conference on Saturday, that Prime Minister has conveyed to General Min Aung Hlaing the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Australia Marise Payne to Cambodia’s premier, in the past.

Deputy prime minister Prak Sokhonn was quoted as saying, "In response to a written request from the Australian Foreign Minister, Marise Payne, in writing to the Prime Minister, he has raised the case with General Min Aung Hlaing, and in response because the case is pending. Sean Turnell is still in court, but claims that once the trial is over, the general will reconsider the case. It means that he promised to give a positive answer to the Prime Minister about the case.”

Sean Turnell was arrested by the Myanmar military in February 2021 and will be arraigned in a Nay Pyi Taw court on charges of violating state secrets by the military government. According to the weight of the sentence he will face up to 14 years in prison.