Some 100,000 Cambodian gov't officials to be asked to declare assets

Will this corrupt trio declares their assets? (Photo: AP)

July 14, 2010
Xinhua

Chairman of the Cambodian Anti- Corruption Unit (ACU) told reporters on Wednesday that about 100, 000 government officials will be asked to declare their assets as part of the government's efforts to fight against graft.

Om Yentieng said at a news conference that"we have list of the names of about 100,000 officials to declare their assets to the National Anti-corruption Council and is expected to do so ahead of November this year."

Cambodia is to host a regional conference on anti-corruption on Nov. 4, 2010. He said that the government officials, who have been appointed by royal decree or government's sub-decree, would be asked to declare their assets if needed. The Cambodian lawmakers and leaders of the civil society would be also asked to declare their assets to the National Anti-corruption Council in the future, he said.

Om Yentieng also said that his Unit will sign notes of the Memorandum of Understands (MOU) with a number of the relevant ministries such as ministries of justice and interior for collaborations in investigating grafts and law enforcement.

The Cambodian National Assembly approved in March the anti- corruption law allowed the country to establish the mechanism of the National Anti-corruption Council and the Anti-corruption Unit.

Cambodia has planned to set up hotlines, emails and offices to receive complaints about corruption. The Anti-corruption Unit would protect the identities of the sources, said Om Yentieng.

The Unit called Cambodians to come forward with their complaints of corruption if any, he said.

Cambodian officials of the Unit have so far received five training sessions, which conducted by USAID, on how to fight against such illicit activities of graft, he said.