327 East 58th Street: Amb. Chem Widhya's new residence in New YorkThursday, November 30, 2006
By Erik Wasson and Prak Chan Thul
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The Cambodian government spent more than $5 million earlier this month to buy a residence in New York City's swanky Manhattan borough for its ambassador to the UN, the New York Times reported.
The townhouse, located at 327 East 58th Street in the elite Upper East Side neighborhood is now the property of the Kingdom of Cambodia, according to the New York City government property records Web site.
The Cambodian government bought the property from New York photographer Ormond Gigli for $5.1 million, the New York Times reported Sunday. On top of this, the government paid an additional $300,000 to another party to sign over a previous contract to buy the building, the newspaper said.
Cambodia's ambassador to the UN Chem Widhya, a CPP official, currently lives in the less exclusive neighborhood of Forest Hills in the New York borough of Queens, according to Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site. E-mailed questions to Cambodia's permanent mission to the UN on Tuesday had not been responded to by Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourn referred questions on the deal to his fellow Secretary of State Ouch Borith, who said the Finance Ministry had the full details of the purchase.
Finance Ministry Secretary of State Ouk Rabun said when it comes to buying property in the US, $5.1 million may not be pricey.
"How do you know it is expensive? In the US market I don't know how much is cheap and how much is expensive. It depends on what you think," he said.
SRP parliamentarian Keo Remy said the 2006 budget approved by the National Assembly did not mention buying real estate in New York.
"Where is the money coming from? Did we borrow the money? Who did we borrow from? ... We the parliamentarians have not been informed about this purchase," he said.
Keo Remy also said that the money could be better spent elsewhere. "We would prefer that the money be spent on education. The teachers' salary is very low," he said.
The townhouse, located at 327 East 58th Street in the elite Upper East Side neighborhood is now the property of the Kingdom of Cambodia, according to the New York City government property records Web site.
The Cambodian government bought the property from New York photographer Ormond Gigli for $5.1 million, the New York Times reported Sunday. On top of this, the government paid an additional $300,000 to another party to sign over a previous contract to buy the building, the newspaper said.
Cambodia's ambassador to the UN Chem Widhya, a CPP official, currently lives in the less exclusive neighborhood of Forest Hills in the New York borough of Queens, according to Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site. E-mailed questions to Cambodia's permanent mission to the UN on Tuesday had not been responded to by Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Kao Kim Hourn referred questions on the deal to his fellow Secretary of State Ouch Borith, who said the Finance Ministry had the full details of the purchase.
Finance Ministry Secretary of State Ouk Rabun said when it comes to buying property in the US, $5.1 million may not be pricey.
"How do you know it is expensive? In the US market I don't know how much is cheap and how much is expensive. It depends on what you think," he said.
SRP parliamentarian Keo Remy said the 2006 budget approved by the National Assembly did not mention buying real estate in New York.
"Where is the money coming from? Did we borrow the money? Who did we borrow from? ... We the parliamentarians have not been informed about this purchase," he said.
Keo Remy also said that the money could be better spent elsewhere. "We would prefer that the money be spent on education. The teachers' salary is very low," he said.
7 comments:
Where is the money coming from? If there is a will there is a way.
SiS
It's the blood money from those Khmers that've been evicted in the last several months. Those Khmers are homeless, starving, and drowning in the flood water.
Yes, the money government forced eviction and sold the people plot to developers. You stupid CPP bought the property for the idiot who slept during the UN meeting. There are so much incompetent in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
That is why the Cambodia's neighbor is raping Khmer people on the boarders. You, MF CPP should spend some money to protect and maintain integrity of the boarders.
You MF self-indulgent.
KoneKhmer
Cambodia need to have representative in the UN in New York, it is a must!
To be in New York they have to have office and residental places, that are must! to have those they have to pay rent that a must!
They need to spend money every month that a must! how about buying a building and collect rent for our own? and if we need money we can sale it back (New york market price is hight, especially Manhattan Upper East side near the UN)
And Hun Sen can find money out side the budget not pocket it and buy property in Government name that deserve some credit!
How about they buy it in Monrithy named and force the Mission to rent it?
Do not take my idear Hun SEn!
Is the appartment that cambodia just purchased is in Hun sen name? I doubt....
11:36PM can you read paragraph #2 or you have to ask? Do some reading with thinking!
In the U.S. and in the West, such an expensive property purchased for use by a foreign government is no secret. The media knows about it, and the host government knows about it because the Inland Revenue is interested in taxes generated from this sale. If it is purchased by a private concern of the foreign country then taxes will be charged, and it's a large amount of tax for the sale price of over $5 millions. If it is purchased by the diplomatic corp of the foreign country then taxes may be exempt. The procedures are fully transparent, and it's a public knowledge.
On the contrary, sales of state properties in Cambodia are conducted under the table, not to mention the sales of private properties. The public does not know how much they were sold or exchanged, and where the money goes. Cambodia does not fare well in the International Transparency Index.
THE FIRST OUTSTANDING BLOOD MONEY EVER TO BE USED IN THE US.
IT'S THE VACATION RETREAT PALACE FOR THE ELITE FAMILY FROM PHNOM PENH, BUT I STILL THINK IT ISN'T ENOUGH FOR KING SIHAMONI OR SHOULD HE EVER DECIDE TO COME AND VISIT AMERICA, HIS MAJESTY SHOULD STAY AT A FINE HOTEL INSTEAD.
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