Mech Dara, 36 year-old, is a Cambodian journalist known for his investigative reporting on corruption and human trafficking. He has worked for prominent Cambodian newspapers such as The Cambodia Daily and The Phnom Penh Post, both of which were shut down by the government. Dara also reported for Voice of Democracy radio and website, which was closed down in 2023. In 2023, Dara was honored by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as a Trafficking in Persons Report Hero for his work exposing online scams. However, his investigative work has led to significant legal challenges. On September 30, 2024, Dara was arrested and later on charged with “incitement to provoke serious social chaos” due to his social media posts.