PHNOM PENH, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Senate of Cambodia, or the upper house, on Wednesday granted the final approval to the country's lese-majeste law that makes it a crime to insult the nation's King Norodom Sihamoni.
Forty five out of 52 senators, who were present at the session, voted in favor of the bill, said a Senate statement.
Under the law, prosecutors will be able to file criminal suits on behalf of the monarchy against anyone deemed to be insulting the king, and those found guilty will be jailed between one and five years with a fine between 500 U.S. dollars and 2,500 U.S. dollars.
The statement said that the bill was designed "to uphold and protect the honor and name of His Majesty the King, who is the head of state of the Kingdom of Cambodia."
It was proposed by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen's government earlier this month and was adopted by the National Assembly, or the lower house, on Feb. 14.
After the Senate's approval, the bill will be submitted to the king for promulgation.
