Puth ChandarithBy Kuch Naken
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
A lawyer for jailed former Kampot provincial governor Puth Chandarith proclaimed his client's innocence Tuesday, saying he has documentation that will clear him of the corruption and land-grabbing charges brought against him by a government attorney.
Keo Ya also said it was too early to comment on whether the allegations against the Funcinpec official, who was arrested in Battambang town on Sunday, are politically motivated.
"My client reported to me that he did nothing wrong. My client would have fled the country if he had really done something illegal," he said. "My client claimed he has clear documents and evidence to prove his innocence."
Keo Ya said he visited the 49-year-old Cambodian American at Kampot Provincial Prison on Monday, and that he was being treated well. "No one has made any trouble for him or beaten him."
Uk Kimsoth, prosecutor at the provincial court, said no date has been set for Puth Chandarith's trial, but added that the court has begun its investigation. He also warned that more government officials may be arrested.
"I cannot tell how many more people will be arrested but there are several other [suspects] including government officials," he said.
Long Norindh, the government lawyer who filed the complaint against Puth Chandarith on June 23, said the complaint does not include anyone else, but declined further comment.
US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said he could not comment on the case, citing rules of privacy, but added: "In general when a US citizen is arrested, we will go to see them."
Puth Chandarith has been charged under article 38 of the Untac criminal code pertaining to extortion and article 45 dealing with fraud, according to a copy of the arrest warrant. He is also charged with violating article 259 of the Land Law by allegedly infringing on public property, and with complicity in forest crime under article 97 of the Forestry Law.
Ngan Seth, governor of Kampot's Chhuk district, said the arrest might be linked to Puth Chandarith allowing several companies, including one named "Hun Sen Agro-Industry," to clear thousands of hectares of forest without a license from the relevant ministries.
On June 21, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced he had learned that Hun Sen Agro-Industry had used his name to grab land, adding that those involved would be punished.
Muong Chhut, the district's deputy governor, said he had signed off in November 2005 on a request made by Hun Sen Agro-Industry to establish a land concession before forwarding it to Puth Chandarith, who he said approved the request later the same month.
"I am not involved with any corruption, land grabbing or illegal forest clearance. The commune chief had already agreed, so I only signed it in order to send that proposal to the provincial governor to make a decision," Muong Chhut said.
Ngan Seth said the land cleared by the firm was returned to the state in May under Hun Sen's orders.
Funcinpec's Minister of Rural Development Lu Laysreng said he welcomed the arrest of government officials if they have broken the law. "Maybe the government has clear evidence," he said. It is my personal idea, but if this governor really did something like he is alleged to have done, I would welcome the government arresting more Funcinpec officials who have done something illegal."
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the arrest was likely politically motivated. He noted that Kham Khoeun, the CPP’s former governor of Ratanakkiri province, has not been arrested, despite being charged in absentia in February with taking bribes and destruction of the environment.
"CPP senior officials rarely face arrest, for example, the former Ratanakkiri provincial governor is still at large. This is not fair," he said. "The ruling party will fire or arrest officials from the other party when there is only a small problem."
Keo Ya also said it was too early to comment on whether the allegations against the Funcinpec official, who was arrested in Battambang town on Sunday, are politically motivated.
"My client reported to me that he did nothing wrong. My client would have fled the country if he had really done something illegal," he said. "My client claimed he has clear documents and evidence to prove his innocence."
Keo Ya said he visited the 49-year-old Cambodian American at Kampot Provincial Prison on Monday, and that he was being treated well. "No one has made any trouble for him or beaten him."
Uk Kimsoth, prosecutor at the provincial court, said no date has been set for Puth Chandarith's trial, but added that the court has begun its investigation. He also warned that more government officials may be arrested.
"I cannot tell how many more people will be arrested but there are several other [suspects] including government officials," he said.
Long Norindh, the government lawyer who filed the complaint against Puth Chandarith on June 23, said the complaint does not include anyone else, but declined further comment.
US Embassy spokesman Jeff Daigle said he could not comment on the case, citing rules of privacy, but added: "In general when a US citizen is arrested, we will go to see them."
Puth Chandarith has been charged under article 38 of the Untac criminal code pertaining to extortion and article 45 dealing with fraud, according to a copy of the arrest warrant. He is also charged with violating article 259 of the Land Law by allegedly infringing on public property, and with complicity in forest crime under article 97 of the Forestry Law.
Ngan Seth, governor of Kampot's Chhuk district, said the arrest might be linked to Puth Chandarith allowing several companies, including one named "Hun Sen Agro-Industry," to clear thousands of hectares of forest without a license from the relevant ministries.
On June 21, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced he had learned that Hun Sen Agro-Industry had used his name to grab land, adding that those involved would be punished.
Muong Chhut, the district's deputy governor, said he had signed off in November 2005 on a request made by Hun Sen Agro-Industry to establish a land concession before forwarding it to Puth Chandarith, who he said approved the request later the same month.
"I am not involved with any corruption, land grabbing or illegal forest clearance. The commune chief had already agreed, so I only signed it in order to send that proposal to the provincial governor to make a decision," Muong Chhut said.
Ngan Seth said the land cleared by the firm was returned to the state in May under Hun Sen's orders.
Funcinpec's Minister of Rural Development Lu Laysreng said he welcomed the arrest of government officials if they have broken the law. "Maybe the government has clear evidence," he said. It is my personal idea, but if this governor really did something like he is alleged to have done, I would welcome the government arresting more Funcinpec officials who have done something illegal."
Koul Panha, director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the arrest was likely politically motivated. He noted that Kham Khoeun, the CPP’s former governor of Ratanakkiri province, has not been arrested, despite being charged in absentia in February with taking bribes and destruction of the environment.
"CPP senior officials rarely face arrest, for example, the former Ratanakkiri provincial governor is still at large. This is not fair," he said. "The ruling party will fire or arrest officials from the other party when there is only a small problem."
10 comments:
To check how much he has corrupted, we must find out,
-How much he has paid for his position?.
-How much his assets in the USa before he came to Cambodia?
-How much he has owned in Cambodia?
-How he can afford to buy his Lexus in Cambodia for his salary of US$650 per month?
If he own more than he can earn through his salary, then he is completely corrupted.
I believe all government officials in Cambodia make officially "at the most" $2,000.00 per month.
Almost all of them, believe it or not or rich. They have at least two or three villas, lot of land, lots of cars, and lots of money to send their kids to study abroad and buy lots of diamonds for their wives.
It's the fact.
Cannot deny that they are poor and ride bike to work.
Where are the money coming from???
Almost all dogs eat shit. Burn these corrupted dogs alive with gasoline starting from the top dog.
Cannot kill all dogs.
Need to keep some for people who like to eat dog meat. Or they will be very very angry.
Jut kidding
This week, China has investigated more 800,000 party actvists for corruption. They have caught 8 most corrupted one and they will punish them first before catching all small fishes. Can Hun Sen do that too. Why he cannot? He must resign for lack of courage to combat with corruption.
Why he cannot, you ask? Because that's like asking a dog to eat his own shit. You know dogs don't eat their own shit.
I believe that the only one person that can fight corruption in Cambodia is "Samdech Hun Sen".
He has full and complete power and tools to do it.
Either He will do it or not it's up to him.
If he don't do it, he will sink with all the corrupts, if he do it he will blossom like flowers and will be respected for generations to come.
If he do it, people should name him as "the King of corruption fighters", if not people should name as "the King of the corrupts."
Just a thought
The person they should investigate is the KING OF CORRUPTION himself, and that is The Dictator of Cambodia- HUN SEN! He needs to be the person to be thrown out of power in order to start a brand new democracy in Cambodia without corruption! How can someone be in power year after year! In order to eliminate corruption in Cambodia is to eliminate the dictator of Cambodia- Hun Sen!!!!!!!!!
Well said. I think he needs to be replaced by one of us (-:.
Honestly any asshole can do a job better than him.
I know this man. He use to live in Long Beach for about twenty years!!! I know for a fact that he didn't buy his power. He worked at Boeing for about 17 years and gave up his job and buisenss, and his family for Cambodia. It's so sad that this had to happen to him. But this is what happen when you risk your whole entire life for a screwed up country!
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