26 Jan 08By Soriya
Samleng Yuveakchon Khmer (Voice of Khmer Youth)
Translated from Khmer and posted online by Anonymous
A new corruption scandal of Health Minister Nut Sokhom is in the hands of Cambodian People's Party [CPP] officials and it can lead him toward the same fate as the former governor of Kampot province from the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, and Peaceful Cambodia] Party. This appears to be part of the ruling party's campaign to fight corruption. Suppose Nut Soklhom is arrested and jailed on corruption charges in the bidding for the right to procure medicines for the Ministry of Public Health [MoPH], this would help to boost the prestige of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government. People would acclaim it for daring to fight corruption and for not sparing even ministers who can also be thrown into jail.
A source said that the head of the Ministry of Inspection [MoI] Mrs. Men Sam-an a few days ago summoned for questioning Health Minister Nut Sokhom, who is also head of the committee overseeing the bidding for the procurement of medicines which has been rife with reports of corruption. It is not known whether this was Mrs. Men Sam-an's tactics to alert people about corruption or was it her intention to wake Nut Sokhom up with a big punch to the head. However, this corruption scandal is most serious, on the one hand, because Yeay [lady] Phu is so influential and, on the other hand, because Nut Sokhom thought he has earned the understanding to make some money since his term's end is so near. However, Yeay Phu's overwhelming influence has caused Nut Sokhom to worry to the point of losing all appetite, for everybody has heard about Yeay Phu's clout; if she wants something no one in Cambodia can stop her.
According to a report, Mrs. Men Sam-an, member of the CPP Central Committee's Political Bureau, summoned Minister Nut Sokhom to clarify charges of corruption in the bidding for the 2008 right to procure medicines for the MoPH. But the source did not reveal the outcome of the clarification by Minister Nut Sokhom to Mrs. Men Sam-an's questioning. Nevertheless, this incident certainly jolted Nut Sokhom awake because there have been scores of corruption scandals in the MoPH since he became health minister in 2004.
The bidding for the 2008 right to procure medical equipment and medicines for the MoPH was won by Yeay Phu's son named Khov Van. According to some sources, Yeay Phu just made a single phone call and the MoPH officials were all shaken with fear. Minister Nut Sokhom immediately made arrangement on this business in response to Yeay Phu's request and wishes, daring not to utter a single word against her will. Immediately after the announcement of the result of the bidding, various business circles, especially the companies that took part in the bidding, protested that there was utter corruption in the bidding to procure medicines for the MoPH in 2008. Sources reported that several companies taking part in the bidding lodged complaints with or sent documents to Mrs. Em Sam-an's MoI, forcing her to summon Nut Sokhom for questioning.
Some sources said that Nut Sokhom received no less than $2 million in kickbacks from permitting the company of Yeay Phu's son to have the right to procure medicines for the MoPH in 2008. At the same time, some reports claimed that Yeay Phu did not make such payment. She only made a phone call to the big shot at the Council of Ministers Cabinet in order to get approval for the 2008 procurement right to supply medicines to the MoPH. But some other sources said that Yeay Phu did give some money to the bidding committee.
The bidding committee made up of Minister Nut Sokhom and State Secretary Sok Pheng of the MoPH is so afraid of Yeay Phu's business influence that it consented to decide according to the order from higher up to let Yeay Phu's son win the bidding for the right to procure medicines for the MoPH. This has corruption stamped all over it with people claiming that in his capacity as the bidding committee's chairman, Nut Sokhom received a bigger kickback than any other members.
Immediately after he acceded to the post of health minister, Nut Sokhom has left a remarkable impression when he started reshuffling a number of positions inside the MoPH. Although Nut Sokhom has acted as if he is a little unstable, it is said that the scope of corruption under his leadership is extremely widespread, including the bidding for the right to procure medicines for the MoPH and the reshuffling of officials from high-priced positions to less lucrative positions. It was said that the last time Nut Sokhom made so much money was in the bidding for the 2008 procurement of medicines for the MoPH in which it was suspected that Yeay Phu must have paid Nut Sokhom hundreds of thousands of dollars in appreciation for his service. Some MoPH officials disclosed that it is only during the times of Nut Sokhom that corruption is going on so seriously and overtly, fearing no criticisms.
Nonetheless, in the summons of the Ministry of Inspection Nut Sokhom must probably have shared some of the gifts he had received from Yeay Phu with the leaders of the MoI for him to be at peace. Otherwise, or if the CPP intends to show its desire to clean up corruption, Nut Sokhom might be the scapegoat sacrificed to boost the prestige of the government near the end of its term. Sometimes, the millions of dollars that Nut Sokhom has accumulated will not be enough to clear his stinking disrepute.
A source said that the head of the Ministry of Inspection [MoI] Mrs. Men Sam-an a few days ago summoned for questioning Health Minister Nut Sokhom, who is also head of the committee overseeing the bidding for the procurement of medicines which has been rife with reports of corruption. It is not known whether this was Mrs. Men Sam-an's tactics to alert people about corruption or was it her intention to wake Nut Sokhom up with a big punch to the head. However, this corruption scandal is most serious, on the one hand, because Yeay [lady] Phu is so influential and, on the other hand, because Nut Sokhom thought he has earned the understanding to make some money since his term's end is so near. However, Yeay Phu's overwhelming influence has caused Nut Sokhom to worry to the point of losing all appetite, for everybody has heard about Yeay Phu's clout; if she wants something no one in Cambodia can stop her.
According to a report, Mrs. Men Sam-an, member of the CPP Central Committee's Political Bureau, summoned Minister Nut Sokhom to clarify charges of corruption in the bidding for the 2008 right to procure medicines for the MoPH. But the source did not reveal the outcome of the clarification by Minister Nut Sokhom to Mrs. Men Sam-an's questioning. Nevertheless, this incident certainly jolted Nut Sokhom awake because there have been scores of corruption scandals in the MoPH since he became health minister in 2004.
The bidding for the 2008 right to procure medical equipment and medicines for the MoPH was won by Yeay Phu's son named Khov Van. According to some sources, Yeay Phu just made a single phone call and the MoPH officials were all shaken with fear. Minister Nut Sokhom immediately made arrangement on this business in response to Yeay Phu's request and wishes, daring not to utter a single word against her will. Immediately after the announcement of the result of the bidding, various business circles, especially the companies that took part in the bidding, protested that there was utter corruption in the bidding to procure medicines for the MoPH in 2008. Sources reported that several companies taking part in the bidding lodged complaints with or sent documents to Mrs. Em Sam-an's MoI, forcing her to summon Nut Sokhom for questioning.
Some sources said that Nut Sokhom received no less than $2 million in kickbacks from permitting the company of Yeay Phu's son to have the right to procure medicines for the MoPH in 2008. At the same time, some reports claimed that Yeay Phu did not make such payment. She only made a phone call to the big shot at the Council of Ministers Cabinet in order to get approval for the 2008 procurement right to supply medicines to the MoPH. But some other sources said that Yeay Phu did give some money to the bidding committee.
The bidding committee made up of Minister Nut Sokhom and State Secretary Sok Pheng of the MoPH is so afraid of Yeay Phu's business influence that it consented to decide according to the order from higher up to let Yeay Phu's son win the bidding for the right to procure medicines for the MoPH. This has corruption stamped all over it with people claiming that in his capacity as the bidding committee's chairman, Nut Sokhom received a bigger kickback than any other members.
Immediately after he acceded to the post of health minister, Nut Sokhom has left a remarkable impression when he started reshuffling a number of positions inside the MoPH. Although Nut Sokhom has acted as if he is a little unstable, it is said that the scope of corruption under his leadership is extremely widespread, including the bidding for the right to procure medicines for the MoPH and the reshuffling of officials from high-priced positions to less lucrative positions. It was said that the last time Nut Sokhom made so much money was in the bidding for the 2008 procurement of medicines for the MoPH in which it was suspected that Yeay Phu must have paid Nut Sokhom hundreds of thousands of dollars in appreciation for his service. Some MoPH officials disclosed that it is only during the times of Nut Sokhom that corruption is going on so seriously and overtly, fearing no criticisms.
Nonetheless, in the summons of the Ministry of Inspection Nut Sokhom must probably have shared some of the gifts he had received from Yeay Phu with the leaders of the MoI for him to be at peace. Otherwise, or if the CPP intends to show its desire to clean up corruption, Nut Sokhom might be the scapegoat sacrificed to boost the prestige of the government near the end of its term. Sometimes, the millions of dollars that Nut Sokhom has accumulated will not be enough to clear his stinking disrepute.
