Former Trafficking Official on Trial for Graft
By Prak Chan Thul
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The trial of Touch Ngim was held this week, with the disgraced former deputy director of the Interior Ministry's anti-human trafficking department alleging that he had taken bribes from brothel owners and passed up money to his department's director.
Touch Ngim told Phnom Penh Municipal Court during his trial Tuesday that brothel owners paid him $9,000 in bribes to ensure their release in the wake of a September 2004 police raid on a Kompong Speu province establishment, prosecutor Sok Kalyan said Thursday.
Touch Ngim, who is charged with extorting money from pimps, told the court that he gave $3,000 of that sum to Un Sokunthea, the department's director, and an additional $3,000 to Ou Phat, deputy prosecutor at Kompong Speu provincial court, Sok Kalyan said.
"Touch Ngim said he had shared the money," Sok Kalyan said.
No date has been set for a verdict in the case.
Ou Phat denied Touch Ngim's allegations, saying he never met the disgraced officer. "I have never seen Touch Ngim's face," Ou Phat said. "I have never heard his name."
Contacted by phone Thursday, Un Sokunthea declined to discuss the allegations made by Touch Ngim in court.
During the hearing, Touch Ngim's lawyer, Keo Ya, presented a letter to the court that he claimed was written by Un Sokunthea to National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy in 2004. According to a copy of the letter provided by Keo Ya Thursday, Un Sokunthea allegedly states that Touch Ngim acted alone in conspiring with Kompong Speu provincial court to free six suspects following the brothel raid.
"Touch Ngim finished the questioning [of the suspects] without reporting to me, but conspired with the court based on the reason that the arrested suspects were not involved in the crime. But one day later, Touch Ngim gave me $3,000 and said this money was from the release of the suspects," the letter, allegedly written by Un Sokunthea, states.
"I would like to clarify to your excellency that of the $3,000, I spent $2,600 to construct a building," the letter adds. An additional $300 was spent on an unidentified "mission" in Oddar Meanchey province, and $100 was offered to civil servants in an administration office, the letter continues.
Un Sokunthea declined comment on the letter, as did Hok Lundy, who referred further questions to the court.
Keo Ya said that his client kept only $700 of the $9,000, and that Un Sokunthea should also be charged.
Sok Kalyan said he was uncertain whether others will be charged in the case.
Touch Ngim told Phnom Penh Municipal Court during his trial Tuesday that brothel owners paid him $9,000 in bribes to ensure their release in the wake of a September 2004 police raid on a Kompong Speu province establishment, prosecutor Sok Kalyan said Thursday.
Touch Ngim, who is charged with extorting money from pimps, told the court that he gave $3,000 of that sum to Un Sokunthea, the department's director, and an additional $3,000 to Ou Phat, deputy prosecutor at Kompong Speu provincial court, Sok Kalyan said.
"Touch Ngim said he had shared the money," Sok Kalyan said.
No date has been set for a verdict in the case.
Ou Phat denied Touch Ngim's allegations, saying he never met the disgraced officer. "I have never seen Touch Ngim's face," Ou Phat said. "I have never heard his name."
Contacted by phone Thursday, Un Sokunthea declined to discuss the allegations made by Touch Ngim in court.
During the hearing, Touch Ngim's lawyer, Keo Ya, presented a letter to the court that he claimed was written by Un Sokunthea to National Police Commissioner Hok Lundy in 2004. According to a copy of the letter provided by Keo Ya Thursday, Un Sokunthea allegedly states that Touch Ngim acted alone in conspiring with Kompong Speu provincial court to free six suspects following the brothel raid.
"Touch Ngim finished the questioning [of the suspects] without reporting to me, but conspired with the court based on the reason that the arrested suspects were not involved in the crime. But one day later, Touch Ngim gave me $3,000 and said this money was from the release of the suspects," the letter, allegedly written by Un Sokunthea, states.
"I would like to clarify to your excellency that of the $3,000, I spent $2,600 to construct a building," the letter adds. An additional $300 was spent on an unidentified "mission" in Oddar Meanchey province, and $100 was offered to civil servants in an administration office, the letter continues.
Un Sokunthea declined comment on the letter, as did Hok Lundy, who referred further questions to the court.
Keo Ya said that his client kept only $700 of the $9,000, and that Un Sokunthea should also be charged.
Sok Kalyan said he was uncertain whether others will be charged in the case.
2 comments:
Oh boy!! is that a mega mess for the whole tiny poor country?
-So why they can buy big mensions, cars, boats, and go a broad!
How rich is Hok Landy and his croony???? - Mega Millions????????
Everytime an animal like that is caught, somebody should tatoo his face with the word "corruption" then tie him naked against a tree in a public place for 1 week. And for top offcials make it 1 month. Everyday feed them nothing but dogshit and a little of toilet water.
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