PHNOM PENH, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on Monday signed a royal decree to deliver a pardon to prominent land rights activist Tep Vanny at the request of the country's Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen.

In the royal decree, the monarch granted amnesty to convict Tep Vanny, 37, who was convicted of two counts -- insulting and obstructing public officials, and committing intentional violence during protests -- and was sentenced to a total of three years in prison in Sept. 2016.

"Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, must take responsibility to implement this royal decree from the day of signature," the king wrote.

Vanny was released from the Prey Sar Prison on the outskirts of Phnom Penh on Monday night.

The activist was arrested in early Sept. 2016 after two state security guards filed a complaint to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court against her, claiming that she pelted them with plastic bottles, soft drink cans and shoes during protests in Phnom Penh.

On Sept. 19, 2016, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court sentenced her to six months in prison for insulting and obstructing public officials, and on Feb. 23, 2017, the court gave her another two and a half years in jail for causing intentional violence.