Anti-Corruption Unit Mum on Declaration Deadline

Under the new anti-corruption law, officials from ministries from undersecretaries upward and those in other government institutions, about 25,000 total, were to declare their assets or face a fine of $500 and up to a year in jail.

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer

Phnom Penh Friday, 08 April 2011

“Anyone who has not declared his or her assets by the ACU deadline must be found guilty. We will wait to see who does not declare assets on time and whether the ACU takes action in conformity with the law.”

The deadline for public officials to declare their assets passed at midnight Thursday. But with the anti-corruption unit silent on the number of officials who met the deadline, critics are questioning the effectiveness of the law.

Under the new anti-corruption law, officials from ministries from undersecretaries upward and those in other government institutions, about 25,000 total, were to declare their assets or face a fine of $500 and up to a year in jail.

The total number of officials who have complied with the law remains unknown.

Officials from the Anti-Corruption Unit, which is to enforce the declaration and other provisions under the new law, could not be reached after multiple attempts Friday.

However, Son Chhay, a lawmaker for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, called the declaration, done in secret, meaningless if officials are not prompted to follow the law.

“It is useless,” he said. “It is very difficult to punish [those who miss the deadline]. Some have the closest relationships with the top powerful men. And the ACU may not be effective, as well.”

Last week, the ACU said only about 25,000 officials from 37 ministries and other government institutions had to declare their assets, in a process that began in January.

Mam Sitha, president of the Cambodia Independent Anti-Corruption Committee, said the ACU should publicly announce the results of the declaration now that the deadline has passed.

“Anyone who has not declared his or her assets by the ACU deadline must be found guilty,” Mam Sitha said. “We will wait to see who does not declare assets on time and whether the ACU takes action in conformity with the law.”