Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association

Two Takeo Provincial Military Police Officers Charged with Four Counts of Corruption by Kandal Court

A motorist drives by the Kandal Provincial Court on October 6, 2022. CamboJA/Pring Samrang
A motorist drives by the Kandal Provincial Court on October 6, 2022. CamboJA/Pring Samrang

The Kandal Provincial Court detained two Takeo Provincial Military Police officers after charging them with four separate charges relating to corruption after the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) completed investigations.

Soy Chanvichet, spokesperson of ACU, told CamboJA News that the case was transferred to Kandal court on January 9, 2025. 

He mentioned that Nget Chanthy, Deputy Commander of Takeo Provincial Military Police, was suspected of taking bribes, abuse of power and for using fake vehicle registration plates. Meanwhile, Assistant to the Provincial Narcotics Bureau Sin Sovannarith is suspected of accepting bribes and abusing his power.

Kandal Provincial Court Spokesperson So Sarin said the investigating judge decided to temporarily detain the two military police officers, confirming the charges against them.

However, regarding the punishment, he told CamboJA News, “I cannot answer that yet because it is under the jurisdiction of the investigating judge. I can only answer after the trial.”

Choun Sopanha, Kandal court Deputy Prosecutor, declined to comment, referring questions to the court spokesperson as he is authorized to speak about the case.

On January 1, 2025, deputy commander of Takeo Provincial Military Police and two other military police officers were taken in for questioning. They were sent to the Kandal Provincial Military Police Headquarters for further questioning in connection with a drug case before being sent to the ACU. 

Following that on January 6, 2025, the ACU found that Chanthy and Sovannarith allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for not conducting a raid on seven kilograms of drugs and illegal gambling, as well as compromising the confidentiality of the investigation.

According to the National Military Police, a joint investigation on a murder case in Arey Ksat in Kandal was conducted with the Kandal Provincial Military Police early November 2024 which led to the arrest of four suspects, including Chanthy and Sovannarith, to facilitate investigations on torture leading to death, and drug trafficking.

Separately, Luy Sarum, Chief of Staff of Tram Kak District Military Police, was transferred to the Takeo Provincial Military Police Headquarters to face disciplinary action for failing to carry out his duty responsibly although he was not involved in the bribery case.

Pech Pisey, Executive Director of Transparency International Cambodia, told CamboJA News that civil society organizations welcome the steps and enforcement on corruption with the arrest of officials suspected of bribery, which is a positive step towards implementing anti-corruption laws. 

“Reducing corruption is only possible if the law is effectively enforced and there is no discrimination between high and low-ranking officials,” said Pisey. 

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released on Tuesday, showed that Cambodia emerged 22 out of 100, down from 24 last year, which puts it at the second last spot among Asean countries behind Myanmar. Cambodia was also ranked 158 out of 180 countries and territories globally, compared to its 2022 score of 150.

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