PHNOM PENH, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian court decided to detain political commentator Kim Sok on Friday following a lawsuit brought by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, a court's spokesman said.
The outspoken commentator was detained when he appeared in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to answer questions about the lawsuit.
"The court's judge Ros Piseth decided to temporarily detain Kim Sok under the charges of defamation and incitement to cause social chaos," Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Ly Sophana told reporters.
Under the charges, the 37-year-old commentator could face up to two years in prison.
Hun Sen filed the first complaint against Kim Sok to the court on Monday for claiming that the ruling party ordered the July killing of political analyst Kem Ley.
The prime minister said that Kim Sok's groundless accusation had tarnished the image of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.
He demanded 500,000 U.S. dollars in compensation in the first case and suggested the court to punish the commentator in accordance with the law.
On Thursday, the prime minister lodged the second complaint against Kim Sok for allegedly accusing the government of killing humans.
