She has been active in the Cambodian trade union movement since 1999[1] and the subject of both official warnings from the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training[2][3] and criminal charges later overturned on appeal.
[12] Two weeks after the summons was issued, Sophorn was injured when a group of approximately sixty police intervened to prevent her and striking Tai Yang workers from gathering near National Road 4.
In July 2018, Sophorn, along with trade union leaders Pao Sina, Morm Nhem, Ath Thorn, Chea Mony and Rong Chhun, was charged with aggravated intentional violence, threat to destroy and obstruction of public traffic purportedly committed on Veng Sreng Boulevard during the 2013-14 protests.
In December, Sophorn and the other five union leaders were convicted in a trial at the Phnom Penh Court of First Instance where their charges were altered to instigating aggravated intentional violence, threats of destruction and obstruction of public traffic.
Sophorn received a two-and-a-half year wholly suspended prison sentence and was ordered to jointly pay 35 million Khmer Riel in medical costs alongside the other convicted union leaders.
[23] In September 2020, Sophorn was re-elected for a third term as president of CATU, with Morm Channa elected as vice-president, Mai Sopheakday as secretary and Mao Srey Mom as treasurer.