Neak Loeung ferry (Photo: Sok Serey, RFA)28 Oct 2006
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy
Seng Chhuon, the director of the Neak Loeung ferry authorities who is accused of corruption, money extortion on those who use the ferry system, nepotism in the workplace, and sale of government properties for personal gains, said that he will sue Son Chhay, opposition MP, on the accusations leveled against him.
When contacted by RFA on the accusations leveled against him, Seng Chhuon told RFA on Saturday 28 Oct that: “It’s killing me, I never did all that. I will countersue back, I will meet with Yeay An [Grandma An – designating minister Mem Sam An], and we’ll know what will happen.”
Seng Chhuon indicated that Mrs. Mem Sam An, the Minister for Affairs of Parliament, Senate and Inspection, had urgently called him in to unofficially talk about these corruption issues on Saturday.
Seng Chhuon’s denial was swiftly made after opposition MP Son Chhay sent an official letter dated 18 Oct to Men Sam An through the intermediaries of Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly. The letter accused Seng Chhuon of personal appropriation of government properties, and embezzlement of government funds. The accusations were made the citizens and the workers at the Neak Loeung ferry authorities.
Son Chhay decided to bring the charges and asking the ministry for Affairs of Parliament, Senate and Inspection to investigate in this corruption matter. Son Chhay said that he received the information and the charges made by several sources and which are included in written letters sent to him last month: “It’s about nepotism, embezzlement by cheating on the amount of fuel used, the stealing of revenue, the cheating on paperwork whereby vehicles which used the ferry at nighttime are asked to pay $100 per ferry, this is perpetrated 3 or 4 times per night.”
Even though Seng Chhuon claimed that Men Sam An called him in urgently to unofficially discuss about the accusations made, Men Sam An told RFA on Saturday that she did not officially receive the letter sent by Son Chhay yet. “I do not know about it yet, the charges must arrive to me first, before I go down [to investigate].”
Son Chhay claimed that he will push on Monday, for his charges be officially handed to Men Sam An to ask her to initiate the investigation. Son Chhay said that if he is countersued for the fact that he has no basis for leveling his charges, he does in fact have charge documents send by various citizens to back up him up.
Civil societies and international donor countries, as well as the Cambodian people who had recently sent a petition bearing over 100,000 signatures, are demanding that the government eliminate corruption and push for the adoption of the anti-corruption law in a very near future, after a 12-year long promise by the government to bring about such a law.
When contacted by RFA on the accusations leveled against him, Seng Chhuon told RFA on Saturday 28 Oct that: “It’s killing me, I never did all that. I will countersue back, I will meet with Yeay An [Grandma An – designating minister Mem Sam An], and we’ll know what will happen.”
Seng Chhuon indicated that Mrs. Mem Sam An, the Minister for Affairs of Parliament, Senate and Inspection, had urgently called him in to unofficially talk about these corruption issues on Saturday.
Seng Chhuon’s denial was swiftly made after opposition MP Son Chhay sent an official letter dated 18 Oct to Men Sam An through the intermediaries of Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly. The letter accused Seng Chhuon of personal appropriation of government properties, and embezzlement of government funds. The accusations were made the citizens and the workers at the Neak Loeung ferry authorities.
Son Chhay decided to bring the charges and asking the ministry for Affairs of Parliament, Senate and Inspection to investigate in this corruption matter. Son Chhay said that he received the information and the charges made by several sources and which are included in written letters sent to him last month: “It’s about nepotism, embezzlement by cheating on the amount of fuel used, the stealing of revenue, the cheating on paperwork whereby vehicles which used the ferry at nighttime are asked to pay $100 per ferry, this is perpetrated 3 or 4 times per night.”
Even though Seng Chhuon claimed that Men Sam An called him in urgently to unofficially discuss about the accusations made, Men Sam An told RFA on Saturday that she did not officially receive the letter sent by Son Chhay yet. “I do not know about it yet, the charges must arrive to me first, before I go down [to investigate].”
Son Chhay claimed that he will push on Monday, for his charges be officially handed to Men Sam An to ask her to initiate the investigation. Son Chhay said that if he is countersued for the fact that he has no basis for leveling his charges, he does in fact have charge documents send by various citizens to back up him up.
Civil societies and international donor countries, as well as the Cambodian people who had recently sent a petition bearing over 100,000 signatures, are demanding that the government eliminate corruption and push for the adoption of the anti-corruption law in a very near future, after a 12-year long promise by the government to bring about such a law.
4 comments:
If there is an allegation of corruption is being made, the alleged person must resigned all his position and the police must involve. THe court must call the alleged person ( defender)and the plentif ( Mr Son Chhay ) for a hearing. THe judge will be judge according all evidences provided by defender and the plentif.
Yes, what you have mentioned is a normal procedure in the western world, but cambodia is different and I think Mr Son Chhay may be in trouble.
Son Chhay just does not have much to do. He eats too good food and wish to try red-rice (Bay Krahorm). ha,ha,ha,ha,...
It is not funny. I hope more people speaking out and standing for their rights so the majority of poor population can have a decent living standard.
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