Nhiek Kosal Vithya (L) and So Khun (R)20 April 2008
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications had recently decided to remove Nhiek Kosal Vithya from his position as deputy director of the Telecommunications department while he is accused of corruption, embezzlement of million dollars of state funds from the network and the national and international telephone system in Cambodia.
The removal of Nhiek Kosal Vithya took place during a position transfer following the end of his 3-year term.
So Khun, the minister of Post and Telecommunication, told RFA on Sunday that: “It’s the end of his term. He only worked for three years, therefore after three years, we must change.” When asked if this removal is connected to the corruption accusation, So Khun replied: “We leave this to the police to research some more, because the ministry’s audition in connection with the Parliament, they are still continuing their research some more.”
The position transfer took place last Friday stemming from a sub-decree nominating Lao Saroeun as the replacement for Nhiek Kosal Vithya who will still hold a position at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, even though he is under investigation by the relevant department for the corruption accusation.
Yang Kim Eng, director of the People Center for Development and Peace in Cambodia which is a member organization of the civil society against corruption, said: “This is the normal way of the government, there’s only a position change from one place to another. This measure does not teach anything to the corrupt officials.”
SRP MP Yim Sovann who is also the chairman of the National Assembly committee for the Interior, Defense, Investigation and cleanup, and Public Works, reacted by saying: “Mr. Nhiek Kosal Vithyea was not the only one involved in corruption and embezzlement of many million of dollars in state funds. But, up to now, the position change opens the path for the investigation, we welcome it. For all cases, we ask for a proper investigation by an independent committee.”
Based on research report issued by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in September 2007, 8 points were found, including Nhiek Kosal Vithya’s 2006 embezzlement of state funds whereby 51% of the international phone revenue which should be paid to the state – an amount totaling 1.656 billion riels (~$414,000) – but only 5% of the amount was actually recorded as revenue. He is also allegedly involved in inflating the number of his advisors from 7 to 9, as well as the number of aid workers, he was accused of pocketing the salaries of the ghost workers. There were also additional accusations made by the ministry.
Nhiek Kosal Vithya could not be reached on Sunday about these corruption charges.
The removal of Nhiek Kosal Vithya took place during a position transfer following the end of his 3-year term.
So Khun, the minister of Post and Telecommunication, told RFA on Sunday that: “It’s the end of his term. He only worked for three years, therefore after three years, we must change.” When asked if this removal is connected to the corruption accusation, So Khun replied: “We leave this to the police to research some more, because the ministry’s audition in connection with the Parliament, they are still continuing their research some more.”
The position transfer took place last Friday stemming from a sub-decree nominating Lao Saroeun as the replacement for Nhiek Kosal Vithya who will still hold a position at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, even though he is under investigation by the relevant department for the corruption accusation.
Yang Kim Eng, director of the People Center for Development and Peace in Cambodia which is a member organization of the civil society against corruption, said: “This is the normal way of the government, there’s only a position change from one place to another. This measure does not teach anything to the corrupt officials.”
SRP MP Yim Sovann who is also the chairman of the National Assembly committee for the Interior, Defense, Investigation and cleanup, and Public Works, reacted by saying: “Mr. Nhiek Kosal Vithyea was not the only one involved in corruption and embezzlement of many million of dollars in state funds. But, up to now, the position change opens the path for the investigation, we welcome it. For all cases, we ask for a proper investigation by an independent committee.”
Based on research report issued by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in September 2007, 8 points were found, including Nhiek Kosal Vithya’s 2006 embezzlement of state funds whereby 51% of the international phone revenue which should be paid to the state – an amount totaling 1.656 billion riels (~$414,000) – but only 5% of the amount was actually recorded as revenue. He is also allegedly involved in inflating the number of his advisors from 7 to 9, as well as the number of aid workers, he was accused of pocketing the salaries of the ghost workers. There were also additional accusations made by the ministry.
Nhiek Kosal Vithya could not be reached on Sunday about these corruption charges.
9 comments:
This man should be hanged high and short after all.
Nothing developments in Telecommunications services in Cambodia but corruptions will change its face. Pom Kouy = So Khun = Kosal Vijea = Lao Saroeun (new director) are the same faces of corruptions.
The best thing is to change So Khun by replacing Sarak Khan as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications of Cambodia.
I want to see this punished, not relocated, and return everything he stole. Cambodian officials must learn not to steal and must be punished if do so... That explains why Cambodia has the most expensive rate in the region.
10:27PM ever heard of Kit Meng and Hun Sen?
I THINK KOSAL IS ANOTHER HENG POEUV CASE WHO IS NOT COOPERATE WITH SO KHUN AND HE BECOMES THE BAD GUY'S PREY!!!! THE STRONG SURVIVES LAW OF THE JUNGLE....
i think corruption is wide spread everywhere. it would take everyone's eyes to voice it and it should not be tolerated by anybody you knew of it anywhere.
AH Nhiek Kosal Vithya colluded with the Viettel (the Vietcong military telecom company) to scam Cambodian government and people out of million and million of dollars under the watchful eye of the Vietcong middleman name AH SOK KHUN!
By the way, the feeding on corruption is not done yet and AH Nhiek Kosal Vithya will be transferring to a new position to do more feeding!
I am amazed after all these years that AH SO KHUN, the minister of Post and Telecommunication just found out that AH Nhiek Kosal Vithya had committed corruption?
Oh well! When the Vietcong middleman deal with their kind and they pretend to fall as sleep on the fucken job while dirt poor Cambodian people continue to pay for their corrupted mistake!
Ah Nah Puk-Roluoy...
Dau Dam-Nèng!...
Ha! Ha!
Hun Sen Regime.
No country on this planet had gotten better without going through corruption phase. It's impossible.
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