Tycoon Duong Chhiv's mansion (L) and the fixed up electricity meter (R) (Photo: Dap-news)EDC accuses Tycoon (Oknha) Duong Chhiv of fixing electricity meters
03 March 2009
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Tycoon (Oknha) Duong Chhiv, the president of the Chinese association in Cambodia, is allegedly involved in and is accused of state electricity theft.
On Tuesday, inspectors for EdC (Electricity of Cambodia) conducted an investigation and they found out the rich mansion located at 204 Oknha Chhun Street, belonging to tycoon Duong Chhiv, had its electricity meter fixed causing EdC to lose several hundreds of thousands of riels in revenue.
EdC inspectors charged that the house belonging to tycoon Duong Chhiv contained a fixed up electricity meter, and that electricity theft has been conducted for the past 6 to 7 months. The theft led to a loss of 800,000 riels ($200) in EdC revenue per month just for this house alone.
A source among EdC inspectors who was involved in the actual investigation, indicated that the house belongs to a person by the name of Sat Navy, i.e. (the wife of) tycoon Duong Chhiv. Each month, because of the fixed up electricity meter, EdC lost between 1,000 to 2,000 kwh of electricity, amounting to 800,000 riels ($200) per month.
Chea Sin Hel, a director for electricity distribution of EdC who led the investigation team and noted the fixed up electricity meter number 310 located in front of tycoon Duong Chhiv’s house, said that the owner of the house refused to take responsibility and tried to avoid signing the form recognizing the fact as observed by EdC inspectors.
Chea Sin Hel added that it was not until later, that the house owner cooperated: “The meter was fixed up for the past 6 or 7 months. Therefore, we are not bringing any charge on who was involved yet, we just take note of the situation first.”
He added that the next step in this case would be to send the case to the authority to deal with it according to the law.
When reached over the phone by RFA, tycoon Duong Chhiv, the president of the Chinese association in all of Cambodia, briefly said: “I don’t know, I don’t know about this case. Call 012 3377 instead…” When RFA called that number, there was no response because the phone was turned off.
Phnom Penh SRP MP Son Chhay commented: “Keat Chhon’s ministry of Finance claimed that the government spent more than $160 million to help pay for EdC’s (operation) loss in electricity sale, but (the theft of electricity) is not just this tycoon’s case alone, there are numerous high-ranking officials who are also stealing state electricity in this manner as well.”
An EdC official indicated that EdC loses more than $1 million each year due to electricity theft, fixed up of electricity meters, and dead meters, etc... The same official indicated that EdC will pursue its investigation.
According to the Cambodian law, any person involved in theft will be sentenced to 6 months to 5 years in jail time, but if the theft is performed by a group of people, the penal sentence increases to 3 to 10 years of jail time.
On Tuesday, inspectors for EdC (Electricity of Cambodia) conducted an investigation and they found out the rich mansion located at 204 Oknha Chhun Street, belonging to tycoon Duong Chhiv, had its electricity meter fixed causing EdC to lose several hundreds of thousands of riels in revenue.
EdC inspectors charged that the house belonging to tycoon Duong Chhiv contained a fixed up electricity meter, and that electricity theft has been conducted for the past 6 to 7 months. The theft led to a loss of 800,000 riels ($200) in EdC revenue per month just for this house alone.
A source among EdC inspectors who was involved in the actual investigation, indicated that the house belongs to a person by the name of Sat Navy, i.e. (the wife of) tycoon Duong Chhiv. Each month, because of the fixed up electricity meter, EdC lost between 1,000 to 2,000 kwh of electricity, amounting to 800,000 riels ($200) per month.
Chea Sin Hel, a director for electricity distribution of EdC who led the investigation team and noted the fixed up electricity meter number 310 located in front of tycoon Duong Chhiv’s house, said that the owner of the house refused to take responsibility and tried to avoid signing the form recognizing the fact as observed by EdC inspectors.
Chea Sin Hel added that it was not until later, that the house owner cooperated: “The meter was fixed up for the past 6 or 7 months. Therefore, we are not bringing any charge on who was involved yet, we just take note of the situation first.”
He added that the next step in this case would be to send the case to the authority to deal with it according to the law.
When reached over the phone by RFA, tycoon Duong Chhiv, the president of the Chinese association in all of Cambodia, briefly said: “I don’t know, I don’t know about this case. Call 012 3377 instead…” When RFA called that number, there was no response because the phone was turned off.
Phnom Penh SRP MP Son Chhay commented: “Keat Chhon’s ministry of Finance claimed that the government spent more than $160 million to help pay for EdC’s (operation) loss in electricity sale, but (the theft of electricity) is not just this tycoon’s case alone, there are numerous high-ranking officials who are also stealing state electricity in this manner as well.”
An EdC official indicated that EdC loses more than $1 million each year due to electricity theft, fixed up of electricity meters, and dead meters, etc... The same official indicated that EdC will pursue its investigation.
According to the Cambodian law, any person involved in theft will be sentenced to 6 months to 5 years in jail time, but if the theft is performed by a group of people, the penal sentence increases to 3 to 10 years of jail time.
