Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Wanted police chief was frustrated with corruption in the judiciary

Cambodia warrant for police chief

By Guy De Launey

BBC News, Phnom Penh

PHNOM PENH, 08/01 - An arrest warrant has been issued for one of Cambodia`s leading police officers, Heng Pov, in connection with the assassination of a judge.

Heng Pov is also wanted for questioning about three attempted assassinations.

Until recently, he was Phnom Penh`s police commissioner and official adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Violent crime is not unknown in the capital, but the assassination of municipal court judge Sok Setha Mony three years ago shocked many people.

Two men on a motorbike pulled up next to the judge`s car at a busy traffic junction and shot him dead. The killers have never been caught.

Paying the price

One of Heng Pov`s deputies was charged with intentional killing earlier this year and the police say he has implicated his former boss.

The authorities also want to question Heng Pov about failed assassination attempts on the commander of the military police and a municipal court prosecutor.

Some rights workers have suggested that Heng Pov is paying the price for falling out with several powerful figures.

He left his job as Police Commissioner in January, but continued as an adviser to the Prime Minister and under secretary of state at the Interior Ministry.

Overseas advisors respected his police work but said he was frustrated with corruption in the judiciary.

It is not clear whether he is currently in Cambodia.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know why he killed the Judge in the first place???