ស៊ុនចាន់ថុល៖ សែនឲ្យដីយួន! ហៃអើ! ហៃអើ!

ស៊ុនចាន់ថុល រៀនបានសញ្ញាប័ត្រ ពីស្រុកអាមេរិក តែភ្លើចាញ់បោក ក្មេងគ្វាលគោ

ស៊ុនចាន់ថុល បានសម្តែងនូវការគាំទ្រនូវ ប្រសាសន៍សម្តេចតេជោ ហ៊ុន សែន នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ជាពិសេសលើវីរភាពរបស់ សម្តេចក្នុងដំណោះ ស្រាយប្រកប ដោយសន្តិវិធី ជាមួយប្រទេស ជិតខាង ជាពិសេស លើការបោះបង្គោល ព្រំដែន ជាមួយ ប្រទេស វៀតណាម។ (DAP-news)

នាយ "ស៊យស៊ុន"​ ចាន់ថុល យកប្រាក់លួចជាតិចាយសល់ ទៅជប់ក្បាល និង លាងខួរបង្កងដែលជា សកម្មជន បក្សស្រីលើងជើង

ទេសរដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ស៊ុន ចាន់ថុល ធ្វើពិធីជប់លៀង ជូនប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ដែលគាំទ្រគណបក្ស ប្រជាជន

Sunday, 08 July 2012
ដោយៈ វ៉ាន់ សារាយ
DAP news

កណ្តាលៈ ជាការថ្លែងអំណរគុណ និងផ្សារភ្ជាប់នូវ ភាពស្និទ្ធស្នាលជាមួយប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ ដែលតែងតែគាំទ្រ នូវគោលនយោបាយដឹកនាំរបស់កណបក្សប្រជាជននោះ លោកទេសដ្ឋមន្រ្តី ស៊ុន ចាន់ថុល អនុប្រធាន គណៈពង្រឹងមូលដ្ឋាន បក្ស ប្រជាជនខេត្ត កណ្តាល និង ជាប្រធានគណៈ អចិន្ត្រៃយ៍ គណៈពង្រឹង មូលដ្ឋាន ស្រុកកោះធំ នៅព្រឹកថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ ទី០៨ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ២០១២ បានដឹកនាំគណៈពង្រឹងមូលដ្ឋាន ស្រុកចុះជួបប្រជាពលរដ្ឋ យុវជន កម្មករ កម្មការិនី សរុបប្រមាណ១.៨០០នាក់ នៅឃុំព្រែកជ្រៃ និងឃុំ សំពៅពូន ស្រុកកោះធំ ខេត្តកណ្តាល ព្រមទាំងធ្វើពិធីជប់លៀងដោយស្រស់ស្រូបភោជនាអាហារជា លក្ខណៈគ្រួសារ យ៉ាងសប្បាយរីករាយ។

New twist in murder plot [-Peal Si Peal?]

Seng Chenda (centre) enters the Appeal Court in Phnom Penh in September 2011. (Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post)

Khaou Chuly

Sun Chanthol

Monday, 16 January 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

Senior Minister Sun Chanthol has lodged a criminal complaint with Phnom Penh Municipal Court against his father-in-law, his brother-in-law and wife, and his father-in-law’s stepdaughter for masterminding a plot to rape and murder his wife and nine-year-old daughter in 2010, government lawyers said yesterday.

The criminal complaint is the latest twist in the high-profile dispute amongst prominent businessman Okhna Khaou Chuly’s family.

“My client, Sun Chanthol, has directly submitted his criminal lawsuit against [his in-laws] to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court,” lawyer Pal Chandara told the Post by telephone yesterday. “He has sued them for masterminding the attempted murders and rapes of his wife and his nine-year-old-daughter in 2010.”

Trial and tribulation of corrupt CPP stalwarts and their extended family: Sun Chanthol and Khaou Chuly's dirty laundry in public display

Khaou Chuly, Sun Chanthol's father-in-law

Sun Chanthol, currently a CPP stalwart

Murder trial twist puts tycoon behind the plot

Friday, 09 September 2011
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

He wanted to make his wife happy so he wanted to kill Sun Sotha

In A bizarre turn of events in one of the most publicised cases in recent memory, tycoon Khaou Chuly was accused of masterminding a plot to kill his daughter during testimony at his wife’s Appeal Court hearing yesterday.

In February, Khaou Chuly’s wife Seng Chenda was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for masterminding a murder plot that targeted Sun Sotha, Khaou Chuly’s daughter from a previous marriage.

Chan Sokha, a maid found guilty of attempted murder along with Seng Chenda in February, claimed yesterday during the appeal hearing that she had overheard discussions between Khaou Chuly and his son, Khaou Phalabot, about a plot to murder Sun Sotha.

CCHR to Monitor Trial of Wife of Prominent Businessman

CCHR to Monitor Trial of Wife of Prominent Businessman

On Wednesday 5 January 2011, Trial Monitors from the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) will attend and monitor the trial of Seng Chenda, wife of prominent businessman Khaou Chuly, and four accomplices; Chan Sokha, Neang Sinath, Khorn Lak and Yin Sophearith, at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The defendants have been charged with the attempted murder of Seng Chenda’s step-daughter, Suv Chantha, wife of Sun Chanthol, vice chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and former minister of public works and transport. If found guilty, they could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The CCHR will monitor the trial to assess its fairness against international and Cambodian fair trial standards. For example, allegations by one of the accused during a hearing on 28 December 2010 that statements and testimonies she had made to police officers had been made under duress are particularly concerning when held up against international and Cambodian fair trial standards.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Monika Mang, Senior Trial Monitor
Cambodian Center for Human Rights
Tel: +855 16 92 72 79
Email: monika.mang@cchrcambodia.org

Dirty laundy of the rich and filthy CPP-affiliated tycoon and CPP minister's family

Tycoon requests bail for jailed wife

Thursday, 15 July 2010
Chrann Chamroeun
The Phnom Penh Post

LAWYERS for the second wife of a prominent businessman who has been accused of attempted murder have requested that the Phnom Penh Municipal Court release her on bail.

The court last week charged Seng Chanda in connection with an alleged plot against Sun Chantha, the daughter of Seng Chanda’s husband, Okhna Khaou Chuly.

Sun Chantha is also the wife of Sun Chanthol, the former minister of public works and transport.

Defence lawyer Lim Vanna said the defence team wrote to the court on Monday, requesting “higher consideration” for his client’s temporary release on bail.

“My client repeatedly told me that she didn’t commit any crime like those the court prosecutor has charged her with, and she suffers from physical illnesses such as heart problems and blood pressure which have been treated in France,” Lim Vanna said.

He added that her husband, Khaou Chuly, had offered his personal assets as a guarantee that his wife does not pose a flight risk.

Lim Vanna said he was unsure whether the court would approve the bail request, but that a response must be given within five days of the date of the request.

Meanwhile, relatives of Seng Chanda continue to protest her innocence regarding the charge of attempted murder.

Huy Sok Leap, her 20-year-old daughter, described the case against her mother as “a complete slander and fabrication”, and Khaou Phallaboth, Khaou Chuly’s son, earlier this week expressed regrets that a “small internal dispute in the family” had been made public.

“I firmly believe that my father’s wife would not do such a foolish thing as to order the rape and murder of my older sister,” he said.

Investigating Judge Te Sam Ang said yesterday that he had received the request from Seng Chanda’s lawyer but had not had time to consider it.

The Dy-NASTIES' saga continues: 81-yr-old patriarch needs 48-yr-old wife because he is lonely and too old at home

Khaou Chuly

Okhna to petition for wife’s release on bail

Monday, 12 July 2010
Chrann Chamroeun
The Phnom Penh Post

A PROMINENT businessman whose wife stands accused of masterminding a murder plot plans to petition government officials for her release on bail, his lawyer said yesterday.

The court last week charged Seng Chanda with attempted premeditated murder in connection with an alleged plot that targeted Sun Chantha, the daughter of Seng Chanda’s husband, Okhna Khaou Chuly. Suv Chantha is also the wife of Sun Chanthol, vice chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and a former minister of public works and transport.

A complaint filed June 16 by Sun Chantha accuses two men and two women of attempting to rape and murder her and her daughter. According to the complaint, they approached the family’s house in Sen Sok district in the early morning hours of June 13 after drugging the family’s guard dogs. The complaint asserts that the plot was foiled after Sun Chantha woke up.

Lim Vanna, Khaou Chuly’s lawyer, said the request being drafted by his client would be sent to senior government officials and the municipal court.

“I know that Okhna has been writing personal letters to senior officials and the Phnom Penh Municipal Court seeking the release of his wife, because he is lonely and too old at home,” Lim Vanna said.

Judge Te Sam Ang ordered that Seng Chanda be placed in pretrial detention on Thursday morning, one day after charging her. He said yesterday that he could not comment on the prospect of her being released on bail because he had not seen any letter from Khaou Chuly.

Lim Vanna said the decision would rest solely with the investigating judge, despite the fact that government officials were also being petitioned.

“It is the judge’s right to make this decision whether or not to release her on bail,” he said, and added that the court would be kept informed of Seng Chanda’s whereabouts in the run-up to any trial.

Pol Chandara, a government lawyer representing Sun Chantha, declined to comment on the pending bail request in light of the fact that the case was still being investigated.

He said, though, that he believed it would be more appropriate to send a letter to the court than to government officials. “The government officials cannot interfere in the court’s affairs during the court’s investigation,” he said.

Okhna Khaou Phallaboth, the son of Khaou Chuly and younger brother of Sun Chantha, yesterday expressed regret that a “small internal dispute in the family” had ended up in court. He declined to describe the dispute’s origins.

“I firmly believe that my father’s wife would not do such a foolish thing as to order the rape and murder of my older sister,” he said.

Nom Benh Dy-Nasty: When life imitates US soap opera

Who's who in Nom Benh's own Dy-nasty-style opera

Khaou Chuly’s last wife involved in murder attempt of Khaou Chuly’s daughter and wife of CPP minister Sun Chanthol

Wednesday 07 July 2010
By Koh Ekareach
Koh Santepheap
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

Phnom Penh – A surprise took place at 3:30PM on 07 July at an opulent villa located on No. 1 Street 136, Boeung Keng Kang 1 commune, Chamcar Mon district, Phnom Penh city, when cops accompanied by prosecutors from the Phnom Penh municipal court, including cops from the ministry of Interior (MoI), came to arrest the wife of Oknha (rich tycoon) Khaou Chuly and brought her to court. The arrested woman was 48-year-old Seng Chantha and she is the last wife of Khaou Chuly (the Free Press Magazine reported that she is of Taiwanese origin). Seng Chantha is accused by Chumteav Sun Sutha of hiring a group of men to attempt to rape and kill the chumteav and her children at her house, but the attempt failed (Sun Sutha is in fact Khaou Chuly’s daughter from a previous marriage).

Following the accusation from Sun Sutha, cops for the MoI crime department arrested 4 people – 2 men and 2 women – brought them to court and incarcerated them temporarily since last month. Some of the four arrested told the cops about the plan to kill Sun Sutha, the daughter of Khaou Chuly’s first wife, and they indicated that the mastermind was Chumteav Seng Chantha, the last wife of Oknha Khaou Chuly. Khaou Chuly is currently over 80-year-old.

Chumteav Sun Sutha is the daughter of Khaou Chuly and she is the wife of Sun Chanthol, the senior CPP minister in charge of special mission and former Funcinpec minister of Public Works and Transportation, therefore the arrested woman is no other than the stepmother of Sun Sutha herself. The MoI cops surrounded Khaou Chuly’s villa for two days already, trying to catch Seng Chantha when the latter get out of the house. However, it appeared that Seng Chantha knew about this situation and did not get out of the house, therefore the cops had to use the law to arrest the chumteav at her house on 07 July.

Nevertheless, Chumteav Seng Chantha had not been questioned according to the law yet, but the court ordered her to be incarcerated at the police station first until she will be questioned on 08 July. Nobody knows if she will face the same fate as the four arrested before her or not. It should be noted that on 22 June, cops from the MoI criminal department arrested 4 persons, 2 men and 2 women, and brought them to court as they were suspected of trying to rape and kill the wife of Sun Chanthol.

The four arrested are: 25-year-old Yean Sothearith, 30-year-old Sok Lat, 25-year-old Neang Sinath and 37-year-old Chan Sokha. The four were servants and house guards. The four were arrested based on Sun Sutha’s lawsuit brought up on 16 June, they were accused by Sun Sutha of trying to kill her at her villa located on No. 1B North Bridge Street, Teuk Thla commune, Sen Sok district.

In the lawsuit, Sun Sutha accused a group of unknown men who tried to enter her villa, but they did not steal anything in the house. A source indicated that at 4:30AM on 13 June, while Sun Chanthol was not at home, Sun Sutha was resting in a room with her daughter. Two men attempted to enter the room, but Sun Sutha saw them on time and the culprits escaped by jumping over the fence. But, Sun Sutha claimed that she can recognize some of the features of the two unknown men, and she brought the case to the MoI criminal cop department.

After research, on 20 June, 4 suspects were arrested, one of the men was a servant at Sun Sutha’s house. Following their arrest, some of the suspects said that they bought poison to feed the dog, while some said that they were not involved like they were accused of. Nevertheless, the MoI cops proceeded with the case in total secret and no information was even provided to the news media. The four arrested are charged with rape and murder attempt, just like the chumteav Sun Sutha accused them.

Samart builds Cambodian empire without Thaksin's help [-The sh_t hits the fan among Cambodia's corrupt officials?]

Sun Chanthol, a former Funcinpec minister, defected to join the CPP following Funcinpec's demise. He is now a minister without portfolio in Hun Xen's regime. What The Nation failed to mention is that Samart's Siam Cement plant is a joint venture with Cambodia's Khaou Chuly group and Khaou Chuly happens to be Sun Chanthol's father-in-law. (Photo: The Phnom Penh Post)

November 19, 2009
By Usanee Mongkolporn
The Nation

While rumours fly that Samart's ties with ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen are close enough to fake the arrest of its employee, an investigation by The Nation tells a different story.

Samart embarked on expansion into the neighbouring country through Charoenrath Vilailuck's personal connection to Cambodian politician-cum-businessman Sun Chanthol.

Chanthol, a Harvard University graduate, was known for his business smarts. He was the public-works and transport minister until last year.

Charoenrath is the older brother of Watchai, CEO of Samart.

Through the connection with Charoenrath, Cambodia handed the company a concession for the nascent mobile-phone market, and Cambodia Samart Communications was born in 1992.

The following year, Cambodia Shinawatra was set up as a subsidiary of Shin Satellite to penetrate the mobile-phone market in the neighbouring country.

Telecom insiders recall Chanthol was a close aide to Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who was prime minister before Hun Sen took power.

"The connection led to the air-traffic-control concession going to Samart in 2001," a source said. "Samart indeed entered the country before Thaksin."

In that year, Cambodia Air Traffic Services (CATS) was formed to run the 22-year concession. Thaksin was present at the ceremony when Cambodia extended the concession from 15 years to 22.

Back then, Shin Corp, Thaksin's family business, faced troubles in expanding there when the mobile-phone concession was shortened.

From CATS, Samart moved to building a power plant to support the Siam Cement Group's new plant there.

The Vilailuck family also won a 99-year concession to open a museum in Siem Reap, but it has performed badly financially, because visitors tend to flock to a South Korean museum nearby.

This explains why Watchai was in the hot seat and cried for help when his business was tampered with by the Cambodian government. Without any political involvement now, he is seeking to further distance Samart from politics.

Funcinpec defections continue unabated, as six more jump ship [-Memberless royalist parties?]

Sun Chanthol defected from Funcinpec to the ruling CPP last week. (Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN)

Monday, 02 February 2009
Written by Vong Sokheng The Phnom Penh Post

Last week's defection of six senior Funcinpec officials to the ruling CPP points towards the party's total dissolution: analyst.

A RECENT string of high-level defections from Funcinpec to the ruling Cambodian People's Party could be the final nail in the coffin for the flagging royalist party, says one political observer.

"The latest series of Funcinpec political elites to join the CPP would be a concerning issue [for the party]," said Mar Sophal, an independent political analyst.

"I think that the defection of members of the Funcinpec elite - such as Sun Chanthol and Serey Kosal - could lead to the dissolving of the party."

In last July's national elections, Funcinpec won just two of the 123 seats in the National Assembly and has since held a tenuous position in a coalition government, losing ministerial posts to a government reshuffle.

And more senior Funcinpec officials are reportedly preparing to defect to the ruling party in the hope that their defection will help them retain posts in the current government.

Kampuchea Thmei reported last week that a further six Funcinpec members had announced their defections, with Sun Chanthol, former minister of transport and public works, the highest-ranking official named.

The list also included a former undersecretary and secretary of state, and a lawmaker from a Kampong Cham constituency.

Not dead yet

Funcinpec Deputy President Prince Sisowath Sirirath said Sunday that Sun Chanthol, the only defecting member of the standing committee of the party, had submitted his resignation to the party last week.

But he said that Funcinpec is a democratic entity that has never interfered with its members' rights of political expression, and that Sun Chanthol's departure would not deal it a fatal blow.

"I think that those defectors who have gone over to the CPP have no faith and defected to the CPP purely out of personal interest," he said.

"Funcinpec is still a key political party, and we will not surrender to personal interest."

Cheam Yeap, a senior CPP lawmaker, told the Post last week that the door of the ruling party was open for all politicians and political parties.

"The CPP remains open for any politicians who are faithful and respect the party's rules and work for the unity of the nation," he said.

The CPP has reiterated its commitment to keeping Funcinpec as its partner in the current coalition government, with shared positions in the government.

Sun Chanthol declined to comment Sunday.

More fat rats jump off Funcinpec ship to join the CPP

Sun Chanthol received his B.S in Business Administration from The American University, the Advanced Management Program from the Wharton School, and Master in Public Administration from Harvard University, but apparently he failed to take "Political Integrity 101" while attending school in the US.

29 Jan 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

According to a CPP official, 6 high ranking Funcinpec officials defected to the CPP. The 6 Funcinpec officials include: Sun Chanthol, the former minister of Public Works; Neav Sithong, a former MP from Kampong Cham; Manuk Sophana, the under-secretary of state for the ministry of Water Resources and Parliament candidate for Banteay Meanchey province; Prak Sihara, the former deputy-governor of Sihanoukville; Suong Heng, the former secretary of state from the ministry of Public Works; and Chea Chhay, the former secretary of state from the ministry of Health. Besides these 6 defectors, several other important Funcinpec officials are preparing their paperwork to submit their defection to serve the CPP also. An anonymous defector indicated that the Funcinpec defectors decided to join the CPP because they believe that the CPP led by Chea Sim, Heng Samrin and Hun Sen, has led the country with intelligence, and brought in fast development to the country. Therefore, these defectors want to help build the country, and hence they decided to abandon Funcinpec to join the CPP instead.

Translation from Khmer:

Funcinpec, my dogs, they know how to guard the house
They know how to salute and walk on two legs
If you want to use them, you must give them a treat
Then they will walk on their two hind legs and wag their tails for you to see

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

Payoff time for Funcinpec and Nhiek Bun Chhay ... for service rendered to the CPP

Hun Sen offers Funcinpec posts in gov’t

Wednesday, 06 August 2008
Ly Menghour
The Mekong Times

Prime Minister Hun Sen told Funcinpec President Keo Puth Reasmey yesterday that his Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) will offer five top posts and some lower-level positions in the new government to Funcipec officials.

Speaking at Phnom Penh International Airport during a farewell ceremony for the Kuwaiti premier, Hun Sen said he would give top positions to Funcinpec Secretary General Nhiek Bun Chhay; Minister of Health Nuth Sokhum; Ministry of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol; Education Minister Kol Pheng and Veng Sereyvuth, the minister of Culture and Fine Arts.

He added that Nhiek Bun Chhay should submit the biographies of lower level party officials who he wants to be appointed in the government. “I’ll review each of their biographies,” the premier said to Keo Puth Reasmey.

The premier did not indicate whether any Funcinpec members will be appointed to the post of deputy prime minister or if they will keep their ministerial positions.

Deputy Secretary General of Funcinpec Serey Kossal said he doubted that Funcinpec will receive ministerial posts in the newly formed government.

Nhiek Bun Chhay said by phone yesterday that he is currently abroad and that work on the appointments will begin when he returns to Cambodia.

Hun Sen, who is also vice president of the CPP, said in front of Keo Puth Rasmey and reporters that the new CPP-Funcinpec partnership would be more effective as: “This time we will make no mistakes.” But, he cautioned, that “Funcinpec cannot make demands. I will make the decisions.”

The prime minister also warned Funcinpec not to present him with the names of officials who he dislikes.

Keo Puth Reasmey, president of Funcinpec, could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

Serey Kosal said yesterday that Nhiek Bun Chhay would handle the process. “Keo Puth Reasmey can still use his rights as president, but the decision of nominating officials in the government is to be done by Nhiek Bun Chhay.”

CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith said: “We have announced that we accept Funcinpec as a partner. As soon as official electoral results have been declared the CPP will make another official announcement.”

When asked what government roles the coalition party will be given, he declined to elaborate, but said: “Positions … are being arranged. As official results have yet to be announced, it is impossible for us to form a government. A child cannot be born before his father.”

The opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) is taking no heed of the planned coalition between the CPP and Funcinpec.

“We do not talk about power for the time being. We are busy complaining about problems involving those who could not vote and the many other irregularities,” said SRP spokesman Son Chhay.

According to preliminary results released by political parties and election monitoring NGOs, the CPP has won the parliamentary election with up to 90 of the total 123 seats. The SRP and the Human Rights Party won 26 and three seats respectively while Funcinpec and the Norodom Ranariddh Party each obtained two seats.

The National Election Committee plans to publicize temporary results on Aug 9 and official ones showing the division of seats between Aug 13 to Sep 17. As scheduled the new National Assembly will hold its first session on Sep 24, during which its organizational structure and new parliamentarians will be appointed.

Cambodia needs over 2.5 bln USD for national road construction [-some of which will end up in the pockets of corrupt gov't officials]

PHNOM PENH, May 9, 2008 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia needs at least 2.5 billion U.S. dollars to implement the master plan of national road construction in 2006-2020, Minister of Public Works and Transportation Sun Chan Thol said on Friday.

The budget for national road construction will be increased if the oil price increases, Sun Chan Thol said.

"When we receive the benefit from oil and gas resources, the government will use the money to build national roads across the kingdom," he told Xinhua.

"We already have a master plan of national road construction across the country but we are waiting for the money," he said.

From 2003 to 2008, Cambodia has been building 1,700 km of national roads in all, with some road construction sites just opened and some under construction, he said.

The government is trying to link the national roads with those in neighboring countries, especially Great Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries, in order to improve the transpiration for economic development, he said.

Cambodia seeks US$500 million for Vietnam rail link

Friday, 09 May 2008
By Soun Sophalmony
The Mekong Times

Cambodia is seeking US$500 million in loans or aid to construct a 255 km rail link to Vietnam, though China has already pledged 20 million Yuan (around US$2.8 million) to the project.

Sun Chanthol, minister of Public Works and Transport, said in an interview with The Mekong Times that his ministry has asked China, India and other Asian countries to contribute towards the plan.

“The ministry is cooperating with China to push for an in-depth study on the project, while Wen Jiabao, Chinese Prime Minister, has pledged 20 million Yuan to Cambodia for the construction of this railroad,” he said at the ministry’s annual conference.

“The ministry has finished its negotiation on the point for linking the railroad and will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on the point with Vietnam,” he said, adding that Vietnam’s vice minister of transport will come to Cambodia soon to sign the agreement.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday at the conference that the nation needs 10-15 years to develop road infrastructure in tandem with the rail link, which is expected to be finished by 2020.

Cambodia earlier this year started a major rail restoration project which will rebuild the existing Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville and from Phnom Penh to Poipet lines.

The project was initialized by the Asian Development Bank but has been supplemented by a donation of used rail track from Malaysia.

Trinh Ba Kim, Vietnamese Embassy spokesman, could not be reached for the comment.

Corruption in Public Works Ministry's $40-Million Road Repair Projects Feared

Sun Chanthol

29 Jan 08
By Den Sorin
Moneakseka Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous

An official of the Ministry of Economy and Finance [MoE&F] said that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gave Cambodia more than $40 million for repairing 950 kilometers of roads throughout the country. This road repair does not specify which roads will be repaired so long as they are roads throughout Cambodia estimated to be some 950 kilometers that need repairing. This length of damaged roads needing repair would require some $40 million in expenses that would be granted by the ADB.

A MoE&F official said that according to the agreement, the ADB has handed over this money to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport [MoPW&T] to handle. But in reality, the money is under the control of the Council of Ministers Cabinet. Before the MoPW&T spends the money, it has to get prior approval from the Council of Ministers or it would have no authority to spend this money.

Sun Chanthol, minister public works and transport who is a son-in-law of Khaou Chuly, owner of the K-Cement Company of Kampot province, is known to be ready to defect to the Cambodian People's Party [CPP]. Sun Chanthol is a former official of the FUNCINPEC [National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, and Peaceful Cambodia] Party and was state secretary for the MoE&F from the FUNCINPEC quota in the first government.

According to a senior FUNCINPEC Party that is on the verge of collapse, Sun Chanthol is not a former resistance fighter nor is he an activist of the FUNCINPEC Party. He joined FUNCINPEC during the first general elections. He just contributed some tee-shirts with the FUNCINPEC logos on them and, in return, he was awarded the post of state secretary for the MoE&F. After the 1997 coup d'etat Sun Chanthol disappeared from the public eyes for a while. Some FUNCINPEC officials said that he was waiting to see which direction the wind blew. Now his waiting paid off. After FUNCINPEC tumultuously expelled Prince Ranariddh, he turned to Nhiek Bun Chhay and has since been made minister of public works and transport.

The official at the MoE&F who asked to remain anonymous said that in a developing country like present-day Cambodia the MoPW&T is a very lucrative post because Cambodia needs to build roads and bridges and most of the foreign grants and loans are for building roads and bridges. However, because Sun Chanthol is not a CPP official, Hun Sen would not let him gobble all the money alone. He has transferred the bulk of the budget for the construction of roads and bridges to the engineering corps. Nowadays, the MoPW&T can build only a small number of roads and bridges while Hun Sen gives the rest to the engineering corps with Khvan Siem as commander to build.

The MoE&F official said that although the more than $40 million was the grant from the ADB, which was entrusted to the MoPW&T to control and manage, but this money was also under the supervision of the Council of Ministers Cabinet. Therefore, this money is not entirely handled by the MoPW&T. A large part of it is under the control of the engineering corps as well. However, although the engineering corps and the MoPW&T are the ones who build roads and bridges, the Council of Ministers still is going to get a big cut out of the construction budget. This is why the Council of Ministers is keeping the money.

The MoE&F official said that the projects to build roads, irrigation networks, bridges, and other facilities, if they are financed by the ADB, always have to go through biddings, meaning that it is a little bit difficult for government officials to lay their paws on this money. However, the money for repairing roads and bridges that are damaged in spots is not subject to biddings. Consequently, the corrupt officials have a chance to swallow it.

The MoE&F official further said that more than $40 million is a lot of money. If the aid donors do not control it or monitor it with care, it would not escape being embezzled by the corrupt officials. If the money falls into the hands of the corrupt officials it is not different from giving steroid injections in their arms. As for the Cambodian people, they will continue to be poor.

At every forum to inaugurate social constructions, Hun Sen always boasts about his achievements. However, most of the constructions are financed with foreign grants or foreign loans. The national budget accumulated by the government for national development is scarce. Therefore, if these corrupt officials steal from the national coffers, they should not steal from foreign aid, too, because the aid donors have declared that they want to aid the Cambodian people. Anyway, in the end, the foreign aid still ends up in the hands of corrupt officials.