A Thai court has sentenced a man to life in prison for killing a prominent Cambodian opposition politician in Bangkok.
In January, hours after Lim Kimya arrived in the Thai capital with his wife, he was shot dead in public by Thai national Ekkalak Paenoi. Ekkalak fled to Cambodia, where he was arrested and deported.
The court initially handed Ekkalak a death penalty, but it was changed to life imprisonment due to his confession, as stated on Friday.
The reason behind Lim Kimya's killing remains unclear - though it is suspected to be politically motivated.
Opposition politicians and activists are often targeted in Cambodia, where there is little tolerance for political dissent.
Lim Kimya had dual Cambodian and French nationality and was a former member of Cambodia's main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).
The CNRP was close to defeating the ruling party of former leader Hun Sen in 2013. Following accusations of treason, the party was banned in 2017, with its members barred from political activities.
Hun Manet, the current Cambodian Prime Minister who succeeded his father Hun Sen in 2023, denied government involvement in Lim's killing.
Security footage captured Ekkalak parking his motorbike and calmly walking across the road before the shooting.
Ekkalak was also found guilty of illegal firearm possession and ordered to pay approximately $55,000 (£40,800) to Lim Kimya's family.
The court dismissed charges against another Thai national accused of aiding Ekkalak in fleeing, stating he was unaware of the killing.
Lim's widow was likely satisfied with the verdict, indicating her desire for further investigation into the motives behind her husband's assassination.
In the region, numerous activists seeking refuge in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam have faced deportation or worse.
Human rights organizations suggest an unwritten agreement exists among these nations to pursue dissidents across borders.
