Gov't Begins World Bank Probe, Minister Says
By Yun Samean and Erik Wasson
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection received a copy of the World Bank's investigation into corruption in seven multimillion-dollar projects on Sunday and has begun its own investigation, officials said Monday.
"I just received the report from the World Bank. I am investigating the case. I don't have the result yet," Minister Men Sam An said, but declined to comment further.
The World Bank presented the government with the results of its investigation into the projects on June 6 and announced that it is seeking repayment from the government of $7.6 million due to misprocurement in 30 contracts in three projects worth $68.4 million.
Representatives of several donor countries held differing opinions on Monday as to how the government should deal with those behind the scandal.
Speaking after a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry for a $59 million grant from the Japanese government to build four hydropower dams in Mondolkiri province and rehabilitate National Route 1, Japanese Ambassador Fumiaki Takahashi told reporters that he felt that those who misuse donor funds should be held to account.
"Of course, whether or not it is related to the World Bank's project or another international organization's project or a bilateral project if there is misuse of funds, I think they should be sanctioned," the ambassador said.
The French Embassy said it supported a dialogue between the World Bank and the government to deal with the irregularities discovered by the Bank.
"We hope this will help identify all the irregularities that have occurred and prevent them from occurring again," spokeswoman Claude Abily said.
US embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said the government should see the scandal as an opportunity.
"[A]ny wrong-doing should be sanctioned consistent with Cambodian law. These allegations offer the government an opportunity to make progress in the fight against corruption," Daigle wrote by email.
Om Yentieng, an adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said the government is committed to getting to the bottom of the Bank's findings.
"[T]he government loves the country," he said. "We will never pardon the corrupted officials."
"I just received the report from the World Bank. I am investigating the case. I don't have the result yet," Minister Men Sam An said, but declined to comment further.
The World Bank presented the government with the results of its investigation into the projects on June 6 and announced that it is seeking repayment from the government of $7.6 million due to misprocurement in 30 contracts in three projects worth $68.4 million.
Representatives of several donor countries held differing opinions on Monday as to how the government should deal with those behind the scandal.
Speaking after a ceremony at the Foreign Ministry for a $59 million grant from the Japanese government to build four hydropower dams in Mondolkiri province and rehabilitate National Route 1, Japanese Ambassador Fumiaki Takahashi told reporters that he felt that those who misuse donor funds should be held to account.
"Of course, whether or not it is related to the World Bank's project or another international organization's project or a bilateral project if there is misuse of funds, I think they should be sanctioned," the ambassador said.
The French Embassy said it supported a dialogue between the World Bank and the government to deal with the irregularities discovered by the Bank.
"We hope this will help identify all the irregularities that have occurred and prevent them from occurring again," spokeswoman Claude Abily said.
US embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said the government should see the scandal as an opportunity.
"[A]ny wrong-doing should be sanctioned consistent with Cambodian law. These allegations offer the government an opportunity to make progress in the fight against corruption," Daigle wrote by email.
Om Yentieng, an adviser to Prime Minister Hun Sen, said the government is committed to getting to the bottom of the Bank's findings.
"[T]he government loves the country," he said. "We will never pardon the corrupted officials."
1 comment:
Mr. Om, I wish your words come true. so far your corrupted government never ever punishes any one corrupted officials yet even though ton of evidences had been proved. From deforestation, land grabbing, brides, tax scheme, and many international aids. Mr. Om, action speaks louder than your lip.
Post a Comment