[Ken Sara] Member of Cabinet arrested and imprisoned

Ken Sara photographed with his weapon at the military police office. Photo Supplied

Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

Hun Sen had taken swift action to sack Ken Sara yesterday by signing a sub-decree confirming the dismissal

A cabinet member and sometime speechwriter for Prime Minister Hun Sen was being detained in Prey Sar prison yesterday, accused of firing his gun while drunk and assaulting a motodop.

A government source, who did not wish to be named, told the Post Ken Sara, a former anti-government activist who defected to the CPP ranks, had been sacked from Hun Sen’s Cabinet yesterday after being arrested over a “drunken” Khmer New Year incident in the capital’s Daun Penh district on Friday.

Ken Sara, a former member of Hun Sen’s group of secretaries, whose role also included helping to plan the prime minister’s schedule, had faced court on Monday, Sun Lean, chief of Prey Sar’s Correctional Centre I, said.

“He was sent to jail on Monday. He was charged with using a weapon without permission and committing a violent act,” Sun Lean said. “He is at the prison awaiting his trial.”

SRP defectors handsomely rewarded by Hun Sen [-Chao Phally: Working for democracy doesn't pay, unlike serving Hun Sen]

Monday, February 18, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Two of last week’s SRP defectors to join the CPP, were awarded with salaried positions to live on. The Cambodia Daily reported that Chao Phally, a member of the SRP committee and party president for Kratie province, was rewarded with the position of advisor to Hun Sen with the rank of minister, and Hor Sopheap, a member of the SRP committee from Banteay Meanchey, was rewarded with the position of government advisor with a rank of secretary of state. Chao Phally told The Cambodia Daily by phone on Sunday about the reason he decided to defect his party to join the CPP was because he felt that his 7-year work for the SRP is a waste of time. The Cambodia Daily also reported Chao Phally as saying: “I have sacrificed myself for the sake of democracy for a long time.” Hor Sopheap said that he joined the CPP to build the country. Eng Chhay Eang, SRP Secretary-general, said that among the 100 SRP committee members, only 7 left.