Former Phnom Penh police chief Heng Pov (Photo: Everyday.com)Monday, August 28, 2006
Everyday.com (Cambodia)
Article extracted from Koh Santepheap newspaper
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
The expiration date of Heng Pov’s visa in Singapore was last Sunday, but he had not been arrested yet. The followers of this affair are wondering whether Heng Pov has been considered as a refugee yet or not, or if he is only a simple fugitive. An official at the Ministry of Interior revealed that Heng Pov can play a trick to extend his visa by leaving Singapore to go to another country, then returning back [to Singapore] to receive another 1-month stay visa.
There is no official declaration on Sunday regarding Heng Pov whom the public is waiting to see if the [Cambodian] law can bring him home. However, one day before [the expiration date of Heng Pov’s visa], some government officials can no longer talk with certainty, they said that [Heng Pov’s arrest] is beyond their authorities. The only thing they can do is to ask for cooperation from the Singapore police.
The request for cooperation from Singapore police will be lengthy, and the agreement for cooperation must abide with the Singapore law which provides safety guarantee as part of its tourism policy. A Cambodian government official said that the stalemate comes from the legal delay in Singapore because Cambodia and Singapore do not have an extradition agreement, therefore, it is only after the visitor’s visa has expired that this visitor can be removed (from Singapore), if the visitor does not leave, he will have to face arrest.
Up to now, rumors circulating about Heng Pov leaving for a third country, or that he received political asylum in the US, are not true. Some other sources indicated that one western-country embassy official is searching for accusation documents leveled against Heng Pov by the Phnom Penh court. This same source indicated that the court provided 8 criminal files accused on Heng Pov. After reviewing these files, the foreign embassy official acknowledged and expressed his surprise. Nobody knows for sure what was the goal of the embassy official in studying these files related to Heng Pov.
The absence of Heng Pov’s return brings more mystery to this affair. Nevertheless, Heng Pov will not be able to receive political asylum.
There is no official declaration on Sunday regarding Heng Pov whom the public is waiting to see if the [Cambodian] law can bring him home. However, one day before [the expiration date of Heng Pov’s visa], some government officials can no longer talk with certainty, they said that [Heng Pov’s arrest] is beyond their authorities. The only thing they can do is to ask for cooperation from the Singapore police.
The request for cooperation from Singapore police will be lengthy, and the agreement for cooperation must abide with the Singapore law which provides safety guarantee as part of its tourism policy. A Cambodian government official said that the stalemate comes from the legal delay in Singapore because Cambodia and Singapore do not have an extradition agreement, therefore, it is only after the visitor’s visa has expired that this visitor can be removed (from Singapore), if the visitor does not leave, he will have to face arrest.
Up to now, rumors circulating about Heng Pov leaving for a third country, or that he received political asylum in the US, are not true. Some other sources indicated that one western-country embassy official is searching for accusation documents leveled against Heng Pov by the Phnom Penh court. This same source indicated that the court provided 8 criminal files accused on Heng Pov. After reviewing these files, the foreign embassy official acknowledged and expressed his surprise. Nobody knows for sure what was the goal of the embassy official in studying these files related to Heng Pov.
The absence of Heng Pov’s return brings more mystery to this affair. Nevertheless, Heng Pov will not be able to receive political asylum.
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