By Cat Barton
Phnom Penh Post, Issue 15 / 16, August 11 - 24, 2006
Heng Pov is a wanted man. But with his exact location unknown, the battle between the former Phnom Penh police chief and the Cambodian government is a public relations exercise rather than a legal fight.
The government has declared Pov a corrupt murderer.
"Heng Pov is not a political refugee," said Khieu Sopheak, Ministry of Interior spokesman. "He is a criminal. He kills people, and he kidnaps people for money."
Pov has retaliated with claims that he is being persecuted for his political and ideological commitment to democracy and human rights, and his attempts to fight corruption.
"I am innocent of all charges against me," he said in a statement released on August 8. "I am being targeted by the Cambodian government for my determination to bring an end to high level corruption."
But an analyst of Cambodian politics, who declined to be named, voiced an explanation that helps explain the ferocity of the current broadsides between Pov and the government.
"He pissed off his boss," the source said. "It's that simple."
The government maintains that Pov's commitment to democracy, his anti-corruption drive, and his support of human rights in Cambodia are a sham.
"It is just people around him who are making up ideological excuses for him," said Sopheak. "If UNHCR take him as a political refugee his presence would be a disrespect to the agency."
Pov's lawyer, David Chen, told the Post from Singapore on August 9 that Pov's ideological beliefs are valid.
"This is not just rhetoric to get refugee status," Chen said. "The propaganda campaign mounted by the Cambodian government has sought to portray him as a criminal - but it is time the world heard the other side of the story."
Pov has decided to reveal all he knows about high-level corruption within the Cambodian government, Chen said.
"He has had enough, so he is now prepared to stand up and be counted," Chen said. "He wants to talk and I think the international community should be very happy to have someone coming out of Cambodia with this information." Pov has told Chen he has details of the high-ranking government officials who are involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs. Pov, in his role as head of the anti-trafficking police, came to understand - and swiftly came into conflict with - those who handle Cambodia's illegal drug trade, Chen said.
At a party held by Hok Lundy in 2003 Pov was told by Sao Sokha to reconsider his high-level investigations into the drug trade as drugs don't cause any problems within Cambodia," Chen said. "Pov disagreed, but was told by Sok An that if he continued his investigations Sok An would 'kill him with his own sword.'"
In turn, the government has accused Pov of a string of assassinations and attempted assassinations - the earliest of which occurred in 1998.
Whether or not these are "trumped up charges" designed to prevent him sharing such choice details of corruption as Chen claims, or whether he is genuinely guilty, his case serves to illustrates the depth of corruption within the upper ranks of the Cambodian police and military, said one civil society activist who declined to be named.
"This case has opened our eyes: we knew he was corrupt but we didn't have evidence," the activist said. "Now we have evidence, we have bank accounts, houses, illegal weapons."
But the possibility of prosecuting Pov has come about only since he lost his power within the government. When Pov was in favor, he was immune from prosecution even for major crimes, said Sun Sokhom, editor of Koh Santepheap newspaper.
"Following an attempted assassination on my editor, Thong Uy Pang, in 1998 we lodged a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court," he said. "But the court did not dare to make any arrests even though they knew who the culprit was."
When Pov lost his powerful police job in January this year Koh Santepheap was able to revive the case, Sokhom said.
"Only after Heng Pov was stripped of his position did we feel able to complain," he said.
Mok Chito, head of Phnom Penh's Penal Police, said there had only been a delay in charging Pov with these crimes, because it had been impossible to prosecute at the time.
"From 1998 Heng Pov worked as police chief and was responsible for investigating evidence," Chito said. "So if he was investigating himself he could get rid of a little bit of evidence if necessary."
Chito said that in 1998 he sent a letter to Hun Sen in which he said his investigation had concluded that Pov was behind the assassination attempt on Thong Uy Pang.
"I found out that the murderers are men of Heng Pov, and Heng Pov himself," the letter, dated November 11, 1998, said.
It was only when Pov was moved to a position in the Ministry of Interior that it became possible to build a case against him, Chito said.
"It became easier to obtain evidence on him," he said. "Not just the police but the judiciary have been investigating him, finding documents and evidence against him as he stands accused of far more than just the attempted assassinations of Sao Sokha and others - there are many cases of kidnapping."
But Pov's lawyer Chen claims the charges against Pov are being fabricated to get him out of the way for two key reasons.
"It is part of a personal vendetta, as he has trodden on too many important toes," Chen said. "Also, Hun Sen got wind of the fact that he has been secretly helping the opposition party and called him a traitor to the CPP - this is not just personal. He is being persecuted for his political beliefs, for his ideology."
A source who knows Pov, but who declined to be named, confirmed that Pov had trodden on a great many toes over the course of a career that began in the 1980s at the Toul Kork Police department. Confrontation was a hallmark of Pov's, he said.
"He had problems with his boss and was demoted for a while in the 80s," he said. "[Later in his career] there were so many complaints from police under him about his leadership, he was advised to change his ways. But he didn't. In the end no one could help him."
Self-aggrandizement was also a character trait of Pov's, the source said.
"He has a long record of promoting himself," he said. "Nobody ordered him to initiate any of the actions he undertook; he always had to look like a big guy. We don't know if he wants to be the moon, or the sky or the sun or something else."
Chito says he is convinced that Pov will not escape justice.
"Criminals cannot escape from the net of the law," he said. "But it will sometimes take a longer or shorter time to bring them to justice depending on the circumstances. I don't think that other countries will want to harbor a criminal in their country."
Pov has applied for political asylum at the Australian High Commission in Singapore. A spokesperson for the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh said that as a matter of practice, Australia does not confirm or deny that an application for visa has been made by any person.
Chen would not reveal the whereabouts of his client on August 9. He said one of the charges that has been filing at Pov and widely reported in news media - that he was involved in the killing of a Singaporean - was simply an attempt on the part of the Cambodian government to ensure the Singaporean government's cooperation.
The Cambodian government claimed the Singaporeans had been eager to help.
"We are happy with the positive results of our cooperation with the Singaporean police," Sopheak said. "They are helping us to apprehend Pov."
It is now a question of Pov's word against the Cambodian government's regarding who is most corrupt. Pov is aware that the legitimacy of his claims will be called into question, Chen said.
"Credibility is always an issue, given that Pov has not got any evidence physically in his hand at this stage to prove his claims," he said. "Part of the evidence is in Geneva, part in France, most of it is in Cambodia. But when we get hold of it we will build our case. It is only a matter of time until the evidence comes out."
Playing cat and mouse with the government he once worked for is taking its toll psychologically on Pov, Chen said.
"He is terribly worried and depressed," he said.
The Cambodian government, however, is confident it will get its man.
"Heng Pov will be caught and brought back to Cambodia to face justice," Sopheak said.
The government has declared Pov a corrupt murderer.
"Heng Pov is not a political refugee," said Khieu Sopheak, Ministry of Interior spokesman. "He is a criminal. He kills people, and he kidnaps people for money."
Pov has retaliated with claims that he is being persecuted for his political and ideological commitment to democracy and human rights, and his attempts to fight corruption.
"I am innocent of all charges against me," he said in a statement released on August 8. "I am being targeted by the Cambodian government for my determination to bring an end to high level corruption."
But an analyst of Cambodian politics, who declined to be named, voiced an explanation that helps explain the ferocity of the current broadsides between Pov and the government.
"He pissed off his boss," the source said. "It's that simple."
The government maintains that Pov's commitment to democracy, his anti-corruption drive, and his support of human rights in Cambodia are a sham.
"It is just people around him who are making up ideological excuses for him," said Sopheak. "If UNHCR take him as a political refugee his presence would be a disrespect to the agency."
Pov's lawyer, David Chen, told the Post from Singapore on August 9 that Pov's ideological beliefs are valid.
"This is not just rhetoric to get refugee status," Chen said. "The propaganda campaign mounted by the Cambodian government has sought to portray him as a criminal - but it is time the world heard the other side of the story."
Pov has decided to reveal all he knows about high-level corruption within the Cambodian government, Chen said.
"He has had enough, so he is now prepared to stand up and be counted," Chen said. "He wants to talk and I think the international community should be very happy to have someone coming out of Cambodia with this information." Pov has told Chen he has details of the high-ranking government officials who are involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs. Pov, in his role as head of the anti-trafficking police, came to understand - and swiftly came into conflict with - those who handle Cambodia's illegal drug trade, Chen said.
At a party held by Hok Lundy in 2003 Pov was told by Sao Sokha to reconsider his high-level investigations into the drug trade as drugs don't cause any problems within Cambodia," Chen said. "Pov disagreed, but was told by Sok An that if he continued his investigations Sok An would 'kill him with his own sword.'"
In turn, the government has accused Pov of a string of assassinations and attempted assassinations - the earliest of which occurred in 1998.
Whether or not these are "trumped up charges" designed to prevent him sharing such choice details of corruption as Chen claims, or whether he is genuinely guilty, his case serves to illustrates the depth of corruption within the upper ranks of the Cambodian police and military, said one civil society activist who declined to be named.
"This case has opened our eyes: we knew he was corrupt but we didn't have evidence," the activist said. "Now we have evidence, we have bank accounts, houses, illegal weapons."
But the possibility of prosecuting Pov has come about only since he lost his power within the government. When Pov was in favor, he was immune from prosecution even for major crimes, said Sun Sokhom, editor of Koh Santepheap newspaper.
"Following an attempted assassination on my editor, Thong Uy Pang, in 1998 we lodged a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court," he said. "But the court did not dare to make any arrests even though they knew who the culprit was."
When Pov lost his powerful police job in January this year Koh Santepheap was able to revive the case, Sokhom said.
"Only after Heng Pov was stripped of his position did we feel able to complain," he said.
Mok Chito, head of Phnom Penh's Penal Police, said there had only been a delay in charging Pov with these crimes, because it had been impossible to prosecute at the time.
"From 1998 Heng Pov worked as police chief and was responsible for investigating evidence," Chito said. "So if he was investigating himself he could get rid of a little bit of evidence if necessary."
Chito said that in 1998 he sent a letter to Hun Sen in which he said his investigation had concluded that Pov was behind the assassination attempt on Thong Uy Pang.
"I found out that the murderers are men of Heng Pov, and Heng Pov himself," the letter, dated November 11, 1998, said.
It was only when Pov was moved to a position in the Ministry of Interior that it became possible to build a case against him, Chito said.
"It became easier to obtain evidence on him," he said. "Not just the police but the judiciary have been investigating him, finding documents and evidence against him as he stands accused of far more than just the attempted assassinations of Sao Sokha and others - there are many cases of kidnapping."
But Pov's lawyer Chen claims the charges against Pov are being fabricated to get him out of the way for two key reasons.
"It is part of a personal vendetta, as he has trodden on too many important toes," Chen said. "Also, Hun Sen got wind of the fact that he has been secretly helping the opposition party and called him a traitor to the CPP - this is not just personal. He is being persecuted for his political beliefs, for his ideology."
A source who knows Pov, but who declined to be named, confirmed that Pov had trodden on a great many toes over the course of a career that began in the 1980s at the Toul Kork Police department. Confrontation was a hallmark of Pov's, he said.
"He had problems with his boss and was demoted for a while in the 80s," he said. "[Later in his career] there were so many complaints from police under him about his leadership, he was advised to change his ways. But he didn't. In the end no one could help him."
Self-aggrandizement was also a character trait of Pov's, the source said.
"He has a long record of promoting himself," he said. "Nobody ordered him to initiate any of the actions he undertook; he always had to look like a big guy. We don't know if he wants to be the moon, or the sky or the sun or something else."
Chito says he is convinced that Pov will not escape justice.
"Criminals cannot escape from the net of the law," he said. "But it will sometimes take a longer or shorter time to bring them to justice depending on the circumstances. I don't think that other countries will want to harbor a criminal in their country."
Pov has applied for political asylum at the Australian High Commission in Singapore. A spokesperson for the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh said that as a matter of practice, Australia does not confirm or deny that an application for visa has been made by any person.
Chen would not reveal the whereabouts of his client on August 9. He said one of the charges that has been filing at Pov and widely reported in news media - that he was involved in the killing of a Singaporean - was simply an attempt on the part of the Cambodian government to ensure the Singaporean government's cooperation.
The Cambodian government claimed the Singaporeans had been eager to help.
"We are happy with the positive results of our cooperation with the Singaporean police," Sopheak said. "They are helping us to apprehend Pov."
It is now a question of Pov's word against the Cambodian government's regarding who is most corrupt. Pov is aware that the legitimacy of his claims will be called into question, Chen said.
"Credibility is always an issue, given that Pov has not got any evidence physically in his hand at this stage to prove his claims," he said. "Part of the evidence is in Geneva, part in France, most of it is in Cambodia. But when we get hold of it we will build our case. It is only a matter of time until the evidence comes out."
Playing cat and mouse with the government he once worked for is taking its toll psychologically on Pov, Chen said.
"He is terribly worried and depressed," he said.
The Cambodian government, however, is confident it will get its man.
"Heng Pov will be caught and brought back to Cambodia to face justice," Sopheak said.
10 comments:
DEAR Whom It May Concern,
Would you all want to know who is telling the true story. Request Mr. HENG POV to have POLYGRAPH.
CHANPHO
All of them are the corrupted dog. However, Hok Lundy is gaining the most.
Every body is really known the corruption, nepotism and inpunity in Cambodian. All communist men (CPP's)are deeply involved in these cases.
CPP is not only the party that her people are involving in corruption, FUNCIPEC is the same, and unknown numbers of SRP, and others. People like you all and me are screaming out loud, accussing the power-holding officials for taking brides/other illegal activities, but be careful ourselves for grave/dangerous temptations when we potentially one day are in the positions to make decisions. ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE CORRUPTED? BE HONEST. PRVIOUS STORIES have shown not positive at all.
YES 8:45PM I AM SURE I AM NOT GOING TO BE CORRUPTED! I AM HONEST!
PREVIOUS STORIES IS NOT MINE!
IF MY FATHER OR MY MOTHER ARE CORRUPTED THE SHOULD FACE THE LAW AS EVERY BODY IN THE HONEST JUSTIVE COUNTRY!
DONT STAY WITH EVIL YOU FOOL!!!!!!
UN and Cosignators of Paris agrrement you have obligation and resposibility to help honest Cambodian to live free from those killer goverment of Hun Sen!
Reform the Cambodia Police force and Army please!
We suffer enought since POL POT Communist to Hun Sen Corupted Communist!
It is tired to say about corrupt officials in Cambodia. Starting from elemetary school teachers to the one-eyed prime minister HUN SED, all of them are corrupt officials. How can CAMBODIA become a better country? How can Cambodian People get out of hell of poverty, unjustics, and illiteracy.
When HENG POV was in office, making money. and when HENG POV, HUN SEN, HOK LONDY, SOK ANN, SAO SOKHA, PRINCE NORODOM RANARITH get on well together, they do corruption together, they smuggle heorin together, they commit crimes together, they abuse human together. But after they have problems, can not share satisfied benefits and US$, they fight against each other.
However, in order to HELP Cambodia and Cambodian poor innocent people, AUStralia gov't or US gov't should make HENG POV reveal evidence of evil witched inhuman being deeds and action of HUN SEN, HOK LONGDY, SOK ANN, SAO SOKHA, and so on and get them all arrested and sentenced to years or life in prison.
Then, poor innocent Cambodian people can choose a good learder for the country and young Cambodian people can go to school and they can even get their justics, education, better life.
Help Develop Cambodia, we need to fight CORRUPTION, but first we need to FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPT LEADERS such as HUN SEN, HOK LONGDY, SOK ANN, SOA SOKHAN, RANARITH, and hundreds of other currup officers in communist CAMBODIAN PEOPLE PARTY and shameless FUNCINPECH PARTY led by sex hungry RANARITH.
Regardless, I personally do appreciate Heng Pov for opening the door for the whole world to see how cruelest Hun Sen and Hoc Lundy are practicing in Cambodia.
Remember Hun Sen was a Khmer Rouge and he is still following Pol Pot by purging or getting rid of all evidence. Pol Pot did it then later Hun Sen, Chea Sim..run into Vietnam for help. Now Hun Sen does it, and look what his closest friend Heng Pov is doing to him?
No doubt about it that Hun Sen is sufferings from paranoia worrying only losing his power.
To Hun Sen: without power means death.
This biggest liar thug Hun Sen does not care about Cambodia but power that he cares the most.
Yun said....
Dear Cambodian peopel,
Hun Sen and Hok Lundy is a criminal to kill many people and do corrute together and kill innocent people and Samrainsy Members for demanding democracy in cambodia. They use thier power to kill thier own people because thier leaders, i appeal all international community to find justic for the cambodia people.
Yun Cheat
Sok ANN and Hok Lundy is the most of powerful in cambodia after Hun Sen Prime Minister, those kind of this people are very dangerous for cambodia and whole society, they are mafia, crimical, and communist. our people always suffer from cruel leaders and kill alot people. they are pol pot too . I appeal for UN to find the justic for cambodia and get their head to imprisoned.
Post a Comment