Tue, 17 Aug 2010
DPA
Phnom Penh - Phnom Penh's police chief has warned anyone involved in criminal acts to stop claiming they are related to him in order to escape prosecution, local media reported Tuesday.
The Phnom Penh Post newspaper quoted police chief Touch Naruth as saying those doing so would be punished because they were damaging his reputation.
"I won't pardon any criminal because I am the person who enforces the law," he wrote.
The statement comes after three recent incidents where suspects claimed they were Touch Naruth's relatives.
Last week three teenagers on a motorbike crashed into a car and then pretended they were the police chief's nephews in order to escape prosecution. Police are still looking for them.
Earlier this month, three drunk, gun-toting policemen threatened staff at an upscale city massage parlour after they were refused service. One claimed to be a relative of the capital's top cop.
And last month a woman appeared in court after a traffic accident in which she said she was Touch Naruth's niece.
The capital's police chief said enough was enough.
"If I don't abide by the law, who will? If my nephews commit acrime, they must be punished too," he said, making clear that Touch Naruth family ties - real or pretend - were no escape from the law.
Impunity for the rich and powerful has long been a problem in Cambodia, and those with connections are rarely convicted.
The Phnom Penh Post newspaper quoted police chief Touch Naruth as saying those doing so would be punished because they were damaging his reputation.
"I won't pardon any criminal because I am the person who enforces the law," he wrote.
The statement comes after three recent incidents where suspects claimed they were Touch Naruth's relatives.
Last week three teenagers on a motorbike crashed into a car and then pretended they were the police chief's nephews in order to escape prosecution. Police are still looking for them.
Earlier this month, three drunk, gun-toting policemen threatened staff at an upscale city massage parlour after they were refused service. One claimed to be a relative of the capital's top cop.
And last month a woman appeared in court after a traffic accident in which she said she was Touch Naruth's niece.
The capital's police chief said enough was enough.
"If I don't abide by the law, who will? If my nephews commit acrime, they must be punished too," he said, making clear that Touch Naruth family ties - real or pretend - were no escape from the law.
Impunity for the rich and powerful has long been a problem in Cambodia, and those with connections are rarely convicted.
7 comments:
The police chief rules out the Touch Naruth name. Good. How about other big names?
Kuoy Pichet
Talk is cheap. We want to see real deeds in upholding the law in Cambodia.
you know why? it is become a culture that relative of powerful officers have immunity. They can do whatever they want and the police on the street doesn't dare to question them when they commit crime or break the law. That is why more and more people try to use the name of this or that officer to threaten police.
It is a corrupt national law enforcement system. Police officers do not know well about their duties and procedures. Shown them the money or fake credential and they will be blinded.
wath's?????????????
May be the policemen took the bride and blamed on the boos! what a smart way to keep all the loot!
In a country where the laws of the jungle are enforced, criminals, like ah To, Hun Xen's nephew, often does the same, and it work effectively if they are the real relative of some top authorities. Ordinary people, even they are wrongly accused, must go to Prey Sor, no exception; that's Hun Xen's laws.
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