James Ricketson’s family elated following Australian filmmaker’s royal pardon

James Ricketson’s family has expressed joy and relief following the Australian filmmaker’s royal pardon after 15 months in a Cambodian prison on “outrageous” espionage charges.

• Fergus Hunter & Bevan Shields
• The Canberra Times

Targeted by Prime Minister Hun Sen’s authoritarian government, Ricketson was sentenced in June to six years’ imprisonment.

His relatives had feared the 69-year-old would not survive the harsh conditions.

Ricketson has left his Phnom Penh jail and will soon be deported to Australia, possibly by Sunday.

Fairfax Media has been told former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull played a…

• James Ricketson’s family…