Hun Sen Said Using Death of Heng Samrin's Adviser-Cum-Drug-Suspect as 'Scepter'

06 Nov 07
By Den Sorin
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer and posted online

A senior military officer of the Cambodian People's Party [CPP] who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Um Chhay's case could lead to a clash within the CPP leadership. Although Um Chhay was dead his case remains very much alive, causing cold sweat to run down the backs of some CPP officials and army chiefs.

As claimed by the police a day after Um Chhay jumped to his death, although Um Chhay had died his confession could lead to a few people involved. But since this is a very delicate matter it was agreed that the case be shelved indefinitely but any party leaders who have some wounds in their backs should accept the conditions of the ones who hold aces in their hands.

Um Chhay's death though relatively mysterious had surrounding circumstances that are not mysterious at all. They merely are being kept as trump cards in the party's power struggle.

A source claimed that Um Chhay's case has given the Hun Sen faction an upper hand within the CPP, for Hun Sen did not have any relationship with this type of person. The source said that under these circumstances Hun Sen can now remove any army chief from his post no matter which faction he is with or which wing he is under. But Hun Sen would not kill his comrades in arms or his own people like one would snap the neck of a buffalo. He would allow him to live and then gain his respect and fear as long as he lives.

A high-ranking CPP official said that the Um Chhay incident involved a high-ranked army commander. Um Chhay and the said military officer had been friends for a long time. In the past, Um Chhay wanted to be an adviser to this military chief if he could get a rank of colonel or brigadier general. However, after this army chief learned that Um Chhay had a shady business and fearing negative repercussion on his reputation, he quickly introduced Um Chhay to Heng Samrin, who accepted him as his adviser. In reality, Heng Samrin did not know anything about Um Chhay's dishonest business because Um Chhay rarely stayed in Phnom Penh, living most of the time in Banteay Meanchey province.

This CPP officer said that Heng Samrin also did not gain any benefit from Um Chhay. Heng Sarin was shocked when he learned about Um Chhay's arrest and charge for involvement in narcotics. For this reason, Heng Samrin quickly requested a royal decree to remove Um Chhay from his stable of advisers.

A CPP military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity said he knew that during the times of the State of Cambodia Um Chhay trafficked antique statue heads. In those years Um Chhay was close to the late Long Sopheap, commander of the 4th Military Region based in Siemreab. When he was army chief Long Sopheap also was involved in a scandal concerning the smuggling of antique statue heads. After Long Sopheap died Um Chhay was out of the public eyes for a while. Later, he befriended a high-ranked military officer and received a vast piece of land as concession in Banteay Meanchey province.

It is not certain what kind of relations this military chief had with Um Chhay but in Um Chhay's confession before he jumped to his death from a window of the police detention building inside the compound of the Interior Ministry he incriminated this army chief. For this reason, Hun Sen used this case as a weapon for counterattacking some leaders in his party. Um Chhay's case is tantamount to the scepter with which Hun Sen can use to dispatch anyone he likes. For example, Hun Sen can remove the army chief involved with Um Chhay anytime he likes. He does not do it now only because he wants to keep him to bargain for something inside the party. Now, Um Chhay's case has been drawn by the CPP leaders into their power wrangling within the party, particularly into the rivalry between factions.

US Official Pushes for Prosecution of Drug Suspects

Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Kampong Speu
30 August 2007

The suspects arrested in an April raid of a drugs lab in Kampong Speu province need to be prosecuted, but a case against them should be legal and proper, a US political officer said.

Jennifer Spande, who attended a ceremony where drug-making chemicals was destroyed Thursday, said the US was counting on Cambodia's emerging rule of law to fairly prosecute the men behind the methamphetamine production.

"Certainly we would hope that the trial would be speedy and that it would be impartial," she said, adding that the suspects should have competent defense.

The April raid led to the arrest of a handful of workers at the drug lab in Kampong Speu province, as well as at least two suspected ring leaders. One of those, Oum Chhay, apparently leapt to his death from a police building in Phnom Penh during interrogation. A second man, Chea Long, is still under arrest.

Approximately 2.8 kilograms of six different drug-making chemicals were burned in the ceremony Thursday.

Lt. Gen. Keng Savong, deputy director of the national anti-drug authority, said authorities would continue pursuit of the drug production "criminal group" and "send it to the court in the near future."

UN Office on Drug and Crime representative Lars Pedersen said he was encouraged by the commitment government authorities showed in the drugs clean-up.

Police Question Three Guarding Dead Drug Suspect

Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
23 August 2007

Authorities Thursday were questioning the three men guarding a drug suspect who fell to his death Tuesday, in what police say was a suicide.

The men guarding Oum Chhay, a key suspect in a drugs production case, said they were unable to prevent the accident.

The guards had accepted responsibility for failing to prevent the suicide and were willing to accept demotion or jail time, said Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak.

"We did question them. We asked them individually.They admitted that the accident happened so fast and they accept responsibility," he said.

Police said previously Oum Chhay lept from the building while his guards were away using the toilet.

The punishment of the three guards was not yet determined, Khieu Sopheak said.

Oum Chhay's death has weakened an investigation into a methamphetamines lab raided by police in April.

Another leader in the drugs production case, Chea Chong, is being held in Prey Sar prison, undergoing questions, police said.

Improper Detentions Happen Too Often, Rights Monitor Says

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
23 August 2007

Across Cambodia, detentions without probable cause are a common occurrence and a concern to rights groups, a leading rights investigator said Thursday.

People can be jailed for political affiliations, for personal grudges, for mistaken identities, and relatively few safeguards are implemented to prevent extended detention of the innocent.

Suspects often lose their rights when they are arrested, said Chan Saveth, a leading rights investigator for the independent group Adhoc. This includes the rights to a lawyer, access to family members and other visitors and medical treatment.

Torture and confession under duress are also common, Chan Saveth said, as a guest on "Hello VOA."

A recent case of mistreatment could be found in the death of Oum Chhay, the suspected drug trafficking who fell to his death earlier this week, Chan Saveth said.

Oum Chhay was a key suspect and witness in a case against drugs production in Cambodia, but fell from a high building where he was being questioned, reportedly while his guards—three of them—were gone using the toilet.

Rights investigators for Adhoc and other groups, as well as journalists, were not permitted to verify his cause of death, Adhoc has said.

It was unclear if Oum Chhay was mistreated after his arrest earlier this month.

US Adds More Money for Drug Bust Clean-Up

An American anti-drug expert Rogert Bruce tests during the launch of the cleanup of the clandestine metaphetamine laboratory at Kampong Speu province some 68 kilometers (42 miles) southwestern of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007. Officials began destroying Cambodia's largest seizure of drug-making chemicals Thursday, while acknowledging that the country has moved from being a transit point to a producer of illegal drugs. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
22 August 2007

The US government announced Wednesday a donation of $80,000 to help Cambodia destroy nearly 5 tons of drug-making material seized in a raid earlier this year.

The contribution put the total US effort for the clean-up at $140,000, a US Embassy statement said.

Cambodian authorities discovered a so-called "super lab" for methamphetamine pills in Kampong Speu in April, leading to numerous arrests and the seizure of potentially lethal chemicals used in drug production.

"The United States applauds the work of the Ministry of the Interior, including the National Authority for Combating Drugs, the Anti-Drug Police, provincial police, and other officials in discovering the methamphetamine lab, arresting the suspects, and securing the scene," the embassy statement said.

"The discovery of a large methamphetamine lab in Kampong Speu marks a significant change in Cambodia's growing drug problem," the statement said. "Now, in addition to being a transit and consumption country, we have evidence that Cambodia is a country where drugs are also produced. This development only serves to underscore the seriousness of the drug issue here."

With the help of the US and the UN, authorities have already begun destroying the meth-making material, including nearly 3 tons of "highly dangerous" thionyl chloride, a second US Embassy statement said.

The US contribution was welcome in an expensive endeavor, Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak said.

"We have to spend money to buy substances to detoxify and then we put the poison to waste," he said. "The important expenses are made on taking raw materials and detoxifying the chemicals as components to make the drugs."

April's raid led to the arrest earlier this month of Oum Chhay, a high-ranking figure alleged to be involved in the drug-production operation.

Oum Chhay fell to his death Monday. Police said he lept from the building in an apparent suicide while officers on duty were using the restroom.

A second man arrested in connection with the drugs, Chea Chong, is being held for questioning at Prey Sar prison.

Mystery shrouding Oum Chhay's apparent suicide: The window he jumped from is only from four to five meters high

An official looking at the window from which Oum Chhay allegedly jumped from (Photo: Koh Santepheap newspaper)

The alleged body of Oum Chhay is seen below the balcony where he allegedly jumped from; Inset a photo of Oum Chhay (Photo: Koh Santepheap newspaper)

August 22, 2007
Mystery surrounds suicide of key drugs suspect of Cambodia

Chhay Chhay Investment owner Oum Chhay, also president of Banteay Meanchey Provincial Chamber of Commerce, allegedly committed suicide on Tuesday at Ministry of Interior's anti-drug department following his arrest on Aug. 15 on drug charges, which on Wednesday triggered off various reports and speculations on local newspapers.

Oum Chhay, 51, also advisor for National Assembly President Heng Samrin, committed suicide at about 06:00 a.m. by throwing himself through a nine-meter-high window from the building of the ministry's anti-drug department, where he was detained for his alleged involvement in a narcotics production laboratory in Kompong Speu province, reported Cambodian-language newspaper the Sralanh Khmer.

However, according to other Cambodian-language newspapers the Monesekar Khmer and the Rasmei Kampuchea, the window is only from four to five meters high, which has prompted observers to think that the height is not enough to kill the prominent business man.

Police said that Oum Chhay leapt from the building after seeking permission to use the toilet from police guarding him, according to Cambodian-language newspaper the Khmer Machas Srok.

Journalists complained immediately as they were given access to information or the body to independently confirm Oum Chhay's cause of death, said the Moneakseakar Khmer.

Amid tightened security, the body of Oum Chhay was sent to the Monivong Hospital at 09:00 a.m. for diagnosis, with the postmortem showing he died from a cracked skull as a result of falling head-first from the window, said the Khmer Machas Srok.

An official from the department who spoke on the condition of anonymity claimed that Oum Chhay's wife seemed not to believe her husband had decided to kill himself, though she failed to elaborate, said the Moneaksekar Khmer.

However, Interior Ministry Spokesman Khieu Sopheak confirmed that committing suicide was the sole reason behind the death, adding that officials who examined the body of the late businessman can clarify the issue, said the Rasmei Kampuchea.

"(Oum Chhay) jumped from the first floor - like diving - and his head went down first. We fell very bad about his death," English-language newspaper the Cambodian Daily quoted Khieu Sopheak as saying.

Oum Chhay's has been given to his relatives to arrange a funeral.

Heng Samrin left for Malaysia on Sunday to attend regional meeting and will return on Wednesday. He had denied any knowledge about Oum Chhay's connection with the case.

Oum Chhay was arrested on Aug. 15 near the border with Thailand, for being allegedly involved in the drug production case in Kompong Speu province, where the Cambodian police staged a raid on April 1 and arrested 18 people.

The chemicals found in the drug lab there were destroyed on Aug. 16. With the materials, over 54 million U.S. dollars worth of drugs could be produced.

In a related development, Chea Cheung, the alleged mastermind of the case, was arrested late on Tuesday in Svay Rieng province near the border with Vietnam and sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning, police officers said on condition of anonymity.

Chea was former adviser for Deputy Prime Minister Nhiek Bun Chhay, but Chhay denied any connection with him.

Source: Xinhua

Oum Chhay attempted to commit suicide twice before succeeding

Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Oknha Oum Chhay, owner of the Chhay Chhay Investment company and an advisor to Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, who was arrested by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) police on 15 August for involvement in the drug lab production in Kompong Speu province, committed suicide by jumping down from the first floor of the anti-drug-trafficking office of the MoI. Khieu Sopheak, MoI spokesman, told The Cambodia Daily that since his arrest, Oum Chhay unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide twice already: once by running head first into a wall, and another time by trying to electrocute himslef. However, on Tuesday, Oum Chhay succeeded in evading 3 police officers who escorted him to the bathroom, and he took the opportunity to jump out of a nearby window. Khieu Sopheak said that a committee led by Neth Savoeun, the deputy national police commissioner, was formed to investigate on the cause of Oum Chhay’s death. Khieu Sopheak said that, before dying, Oum Chhay confessed that he did provide help in the transportation of raw chemicals to the drug lab located in Kompong Speu province.

Cambodian official commits suicide over alleged involvement in drug case

August 22, 2007

Om Chhay, adviser for Cambodian National Assembly President Heng Samrin, committed suicide here on Tuesday morning during police detention over alleged involvement in drug case, officials said.

"I knew that Om Chhay died," Phnom Penh's Deputy Prosecutor Sok Kalyan said after conducting the autopsy of Om Chhay's body.

Om Chhay, also president of the Bantey Meanchey Provincial Commercial Chamber, killed himself by jumping off the building of the anti-drug authority of the Interior Ministry, leading to serious damage of his back and head, an official said on condition of anonymity.

At noon, the body of Om Chhay was handed over to his family for funeral ceremony.

Heng Samrin left for Malaysia on Monday and had denied any knowledge about Om Chhay's connection with the case.

According to Cambodian-language newspaper the Raksmey Kampuchea, Om Chhay was arrested on Aug. 15 near the border with Thailand, for being allegedly involved in the drug production case in Kompong Speu province, where the Cambodian police staged a raid on April 1 and arrested 18 people.

The chemicals found in the drug lab there were destroyed on Aug. 16. With the materials, over 54 million U.S. dollars worth of drugs could be produced.

In a related development, Chea Cheung, the alleged mastermind of the case, was arrested late on Tuesday in Savy Rieng province near the border with Vietnam and sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning, police officers said on condition of anonymity.

Chea was former adviser for Deputy Prime Minister Nhiek Bun Chhay, but Chhay denied any connection with him.

Source: Xinhua

Oum Chhay's apparent suicide (nobody allowed to see his body) and Chea Chung arrested (the next one to leap out of a window?)

Key Drug Suspect Plunges to His Death as Potential Ringleader Held

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
21 August 2007

A key suspect in one of Cambodia's biggest drug cases fell to his death Tuesday morning from the window of the anti-drugs department building where he was being questioned, police said.

Police ruled the death of Oum Chhay a suicide and said his death made building their case against an alleged methamphetamine production ring more difficult.

"The authorities regret the event, because he did give some answers," said Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak. "We are continuing our work, but losing Mr. Oum Chhay makes our investigation incomplete. The confession of the victim in his answers [to our interrogation] could have helped us finish our work."

Om Chhay lept from the building when the policemen who were watching him took a break to use the toilet, Khieu Sopheak said.

Oum Chhay was arrested last week on charges stemming from a drugs-lab raid by national police earlier this year in Kampong Speu, which netted four tons of materials from a so-called "super lab" for methamphetamines.

Rights workers and journalists complained immediately they were not being given access to information or the body to independently confirm Oum Chhay's cause of death.

In fact, there were several questionable circumstances surrounding the case, said Chan Saveth a human rights investigator for the group Adhoc.

Oum Chhay was reported in the local media as an adviser to National Assembly President Heng Samrin, who is also the honorary president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party.

Police also late Tuesday they had arrested another highly sought suspect, Chea Chong. He was being held Tuesday at Prey Sar prison in Phnom Penh pending drug-production charges, police said.

Oum Chhay, CPP advisor to Heng Samrin and involved in drug trafficking, dies under "very mysterious" circumstance while in police custody

Oum Chhay (L) is an advisor to Heng Samrin (R) (Photo: Sralanh Khmer newspaper)

Prominent Cambodian businessman dies in jail after drug arrest

Tue, 21 Aug 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - One of Cambodia's most prominent businessman who was being held at the Interior Ministry on drug-related charges died Tuesday after falling head-first from a first-floor window, a ministry spokesman said. General Khieu Sopheak said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Okhna Ou Chhay's death in Phnom Penh. He added that inquiries into how Chhay was left alone, allowing the incident to occur, were continuing.

"We are also still investigating the drug case he was arrested over," Sopheak said. "We have not yet determined who is the ringleader."

Chhay, a member of one of the wealthiest families in the northern tourist town of Siem Reap, was arrested last week in Banteay Meanchey, a north-western province on the Thai border, after returning from a business trip to Thailand. The charges against him included bringing drug-producing equipment into the country.

Chhay was a longtime adherent of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and the president of the Banteay Meanchey Chamber of Commerce. His family-owned Chhay Chhay company had secured a prime position in a special economic zone on the border.

His arrest has been linked to heroin production and a massive bust of methamphetamine-producing chemicals earlier this year in the south-western province of Kampong Speu, 40 kilometres from Phnom Penh.

However, Sopheak declined to give further details of the charges the prominent businessman would have faced, citing an ongoing investigation.

Chhay was also named in local media as an economic adviser to National Assembly President Heng Samrin although there was no suggestion Heng Samrin was aware of his alleged drug-related activities.

Cambodia, with its porous borders and endemic corruption, has long been recognized as a major regional transit point for illegal drugs, and recent high-profile busts have raised concerns that it is also fast becoming a significant drug producer, prompting the government to crack down.

Chea Chung, Nhiek Bun Chhay’s former advisor, arrested for drug production

Saturday, August 18, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

A former advisor of Nhiek Bun Chhay was arrested by the police on 14 August 2007 and charged with involvement in illegal drug production in Kompong Speu province. The Rasmei Kampuchea reported that Chea Chung was arrested by the police when he returned back from Vietnam to Cambodia. Chea Chung was sent to the Ministry of Interior for additional questioning on a number of issues in order to find out about additional leaders and accomplices. On 01 April, the police raided a large drug lab at a cow farm owned by Chea Chung, a former advisor of Nhiek Bun Chhay. One of the drug labs is located in Treng Troyoeung commune, Phnom Sruoch district, Kompong Speu province, and the other one is located in Tuol Svay Prey commune, Chamcar Mon district, Phnom Penh city. Regarding this drug affair, a group of police officers also arrested Oknha Oum Chhay, an advisor of Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, on 15 August, at the Poipet international border gate, located in O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province.

Heng Samrin: My advisor, the oknha, only transported the raw material to produce methamphetamine ... he is not deeply involved in the case -sic!-

Oum Chhay (L) is an advisor to Heng Samrin (R) (Photo: Sralanh Khmer newspaper)

Heng Samrin’s advisor arrested in drug-lab case

Friday, August 17, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

An oknha (rich businessman who purchased this honorific title for $100,000) who is the advisor of Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, was arrested by the Banteay Meanchey provincial police on 15 August, at the Poipet international border gate. He is accused of being involved in a drug case. The Cambodia Daily quoted Khieu Sopheak, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, saying that Oknha Oum Chhay, president of the Chhay Chhay Investment, and president of the Banteay Meanchey chamber of commerce, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon for helping the transportation of raw chemical material to produce methamphetamine drug in Kompong Speu province. Heng Samrin confirmed to The Cambodia Daily that indeed Oum Chhay is one of his advisors. However, Heng Samrin downplayed the arrest, saying that Oum Chhay has only a minor role in the (Kompong Speu) drug-lab. Heng Samrin said that Oum Chhay is only held for questioning and that he is not deeply involved in the case. A major drug lab located in Treng Troyoeung commune, Phnom Sruoch district, Kompong Speu province was raided by the authority last 01 April.