A CAMBODIAN activist was left frustrated yesterday after learning that the release of her autistic teenage son, imprisoned for social media comments criticising the government, has been delayed.

Prum Chantha told supporters gathered outside the Prey Sar jail that the authorities had said that there had been a miscount on her son’s time served and that he would, instead, be freed tomorrow.

Sixteen-year-old Kak Sovann Chhay was convicted last week of incitement to commit a felony and public insult for comments he made in a Telegram chat group in June defending his father, a senior political opposition member who is also in custody, and for sharing Facebook posts criticising Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The youngster was sentenced to eight months in prison, but had already been in custody since June.

Under Cambodian sentencing guidelines, he was scheduled for release this week and the family had been told it would take place Monday.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court said that his age had been a factor in reducing his jail time and that it had received no evidence of his autism during the trial — but observers said that the court had refused two requests to evaluate the boy’s disability and support needs.