OSJI charges Cambodian officials at the Khmer Rouge tribunals of corruption and graft

Cambodian judges official take an oath during a swearing-in ceremony inside the Royal Palace of the capital Phnom Penh, Cambodia July 3, 2006. A thorough probe must be made into corruption allegations against Cambodian officials at the Khmer Rouge tribunal, a New York-based legal group said, prompting a quick dismissal by the tribunal office Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007. (AP Phpto/Heng Sinith)

Cambodia genocide court faces graft charges

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodian officials at the court handling the Khmer Rouge genocide trials are being forced to kick back wages to the government in order to keep their jobs, a legal watchdog has said.

The allegations are the latest challenges to the credibility of the court, which is also bogged down in disputes between Cambodian and UN judges that make it unlikely the tribunal will begin its trials on schedule.

Court officials confirmed that an audit of the tribunal had been launched but denied that it was related to the allegations made by the US-based Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI).

"The alleged entanglement of money, political favours, government officials, and judicial officers heightens fears that the Cambodian judges are subject to government interference and cannot act independently," the OSJI said.

It said local judges were among those forced to give back "a significant percentage of their wages" to unnamed Cambodian government officials.

But Sean Visoth, chief administrator for the Cambodian side of the joint tribunal, called the outside audit a "regular process" that had nothing to do with the corruption charges.

"All donor funds must be audited," he said. "These are unsubstantiated allegations."

Most of the tribunal's 56 million-dollar budget comes from donors, with Cambodia so far contributing only a fraction of its 13-million-dollar share.

The willingness of the international community to foot the bill has repeatedly come into question amid allegations of government foot-dragging and political interference.

"Donors, the international community, and the Cambodian people have the right to know that money entrusted to the (tribunal) is being spent transparently and honestly," said OSJI executive director James Goldston.

"The court's most precious resource -- public confidence -- is at stake," he said.

Up to two million people died under the 1975-1979 Khmer Rouge regime, which abolished religion, property rights, currency and schools.

Leader Pol Pot died in 1998, and so far only one potential defendant is in custody.