Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Thursday, 09 December 2010
“If I did not pay, I had no right to marry,” he said. “So I had to pay.”
A watchdog group that took tax collectors to task for overcharging on vehicle registration has now set its sights on marriage certification.
Administrators across the country charge as much as $20 for documents required for marriage, which should officially only cost less than $0.30, San Chey, a project coordinator for the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific, said Thursday.
Earlier this year, the Affiliated Network brought complaints against Finance Ministry tax collectors, leading to a recommendation by the newly formed Anti-Corruption Unit that offenders be demoted and administratively punished.
Speaking at a Phnom Penh gathering to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, San Chey said commune officials were overcharging people in direct contravention to a government subdecree on marriage.
In Cambodia, a person needs a letter to prove he or she is not already married and a letter stating they are permitted to marry. Once married, they receive a certificate. Officials are overcharging for the whole process, San Chey said.
“The people must pay between $10 and $20 to commune officials for marriage certification, while the official price is up to 1,200 riel for the marriage paperwork process,” San Chey said.
Chhoeun Chem, a resident of Phnom Penh's Meanchey district, Stung Meanchey commune, said he was charged $20 for the process just last month.
“If I did not pay, I had no right to marry,” he said. “So I had to pay.”
However, Kim Khem Mony, the Stung Meanchey official in charge of marriage certification, said his staff has never overcharged for the process.
“We charge only 1,200 riel, as stated in the subdecree,” he said. “But people always pay $20 to a broker or middleman to help them with their marriage licenses.”
San Chey advised people to get receipts from the authorities when they are fined or pay for public services. Public officials should not hesitate in providing one, he said.
“This can push for more transparency for income management and can reduce people's illegal payments to prevent a big part of corruption,” he said.
6 comments:
I wonder people won't just go undercover with a camera and record these corrupt people In the act instead of just openning their mouth.
I don't thinks it gonna happen cause they scare of the big fishes they only catching the small fishes that don't have claws to back bite them. Those corruption laws in Cambodian is useless.
Om Yin Teang should start by arresting Hun Sen, Hun Sen's ministers and himself..
It's true they shamelessly ask for money for any types of service you need in Cambodia, whether it's marriage license, driver's license, go thru airport, stop your car in traffic to check for your driver's license because you looked foreigner (5000 riel,$1.25 I had to pay those cops anytime I get stopped, that was their standard fee, maybe more now. With that being said I guess it becomes a tradition that we the cambodian people must pay extra unofficial fees (call bribe) for their government services where they are employed and supposed to assist people within their positions, but instead they are using their positions to make xtra money for themselves and sometimes have to pay their boss to secure the position because it's a money-making
position/job/post.
you cannot survive in Cambodia If you are not corrupted.
Well, that's my two cents.
be patient, please, the new law only take effect when it became law, not going back 30 or 100 years ago, ok! understand the limit scope of the law, etc... that's all! that said, of course, after this new law is passed and anyone, big or small status, etc, will all be penalized just like anybody else. no one is allowed to be above the law, you know! otherwise, that is a form of corruption itself, you see!
people should understand that corruption comes in many forms, so know all of them and be the watch dog of the society. everyone can help to make a difference in cambodia, ok!
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