An Australian film maker has been sentenced to prison by a Cambodian court for Espionage

An Australian filmmaker, accused of espionage for flying a drone over an opposition demonstration in Cambodia, was sentenced Friday to six years in prison.

14 months after his lengthy arrest, Australian filmmaker; James Ricketson has been handed 6 years prison sentence by a Cambodian court.

" We decided to sentence him to six years in prison for spying and collecting information that could affect national security ," Judge Seng Leang said after a six-day trial. 

" It's unbelievable, what country would I spy on? " James Ricketson cried out. The leader of the main opposition party, Kem Sokha, is himself in prison, also accused of spying on behalf of Washington. 

The Australian filmmaker was detained since June 2017 for flying a drone over a rally of the main opposition party in Cambodia, where he has lived for several years.  

He was risking up to 10 years in prison and his repeated requests for bail were denied.  

The 69-year-old Australian director was given a brand-name witness at the opening of his trial in August, his compatriot Peter Weir, a multiple Oscar nominee and acclaimed by critics for " The Truman Show (1998) " and " The Truman Show (1998) ". The Circle of Missing Poets (1989) ", having come to testify in his favor. 

This is not the first time the filmmaker is confronted with Cambodian justice. In 2014, he was sentenced to two years in prison suspended because he threatened to spread accusations that a church in Cambodia had sold children.  

A few months after Ricketson's arrest, the main opposition party was disbanded as part of a crackdown on the opposition before the parliamentary elections won by Hun Sen's ruling party. 

Several media have also been targeted by the authorities. Radio Free Asia had to cease operations and two of its journalists were arrested, charged with the same counts as James Ricketson.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Ricketson could expect further consular assistance and that the government had previously approached Cambodia directly about the case.

"As usual with these types of events, it's best I think to deal with these things calmly, directly and in a way that best assists the citizen," he told reporters in Jakarta.

Already, the event is drawing sympathy from Cambodians, Australians and other concerned individuals around the world.