The National Police has removed a commune police chief from office after concluding that the official had served prison time for theft. The police force claimed it had not previously known about the man’s criminal record.
Hong Sarom, who was appointed as Samprorch commune police chief in Stong district, Kampong Thom on September 1, committed a “violation of discipline by the National Police Force,” according to a police statement released Monday morning.
National Police Chief Sar Thet told CamboJA that his force had not known about Sarom’s conviction before he was appointed.
“Because we just found out, that’s why he has been removed. Before, who knew? After knowing [about his criminal record], they [the National Police] took legal action” he said, before hanging up the phone.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Hun Manet publicly called for an investigation by Thet and Kampong Thom provincial Police Chief Men Ly, after receiving information about the case from “various sources, including social media.”
“In case it’s true, it needs to be corrected immediately,” Prime Minister Hun Manet said in his Facebook post. “I would like to ask for a thorough examination and evaluation of the personality of each individual before making appointments in state institutions, both in civilian roles and armed forces, both nationally and sub-nationally.”
Ly and Stong district police chief Yang Sam could not be reached for comment.
A Kampong Thom court warrant reviewed by CamboJA states that Sarom was arrested in March 2015. So Sovannareth, spokesperson for Kampong Thom Provincial Court, told CamboJA that Sarom was sentenced to five years in prison but appealed the court’s decision.
Appeal Court spokesperson Khun Leang Meng told CamboJA that the Appeals Court upheld the verdict from Kampong Thom, and Sarom then appealed to the Supreme Court, which returned the case back to the Appeals Court. On second review, Leang Meng said, the Appeals Court upheld its verdict but suspended the sentence to only three years of prison time, according to the final criminal judgment from October 25, 2018.
Somprorch Commune Chief Peanh Poul told CamboJA that Sarom was working as a police officer when he was arrested for theft in 2015.
“In the last few years, he has been appointed [as a police officer] in my commune,” he said. “I also did not know [when he was appointed as chief] because he was appointed by the provincial police.”
Am Sam Ath, director of the human rights group Licadho, said that this case shows that the recruitment procedures for police officers do not involve proper background checks or screening before appointments are made.
“It seems that the appointment was partisan or that the appointment was irregular,” he said, adding that “it also does erode people’s confidence.”
Sam Ath said the government should complete a detailed investigation of this case to build the public’s trust. This case could mark the beginning of reform in the appointment process of officials, he said, adding that the process should involve a review of appointed officials’ job performance, abilities and attitudes.
