By Phann Ana
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The first government official suspected of involvement in the multimillion-dollar World Bank corruption scandal has been arrested, court officials said Wednesday.
Mour Kimsan, the Ministry of Rural Development's former director of the suspended World Bank-funded Provincial and Rural Infrastructure Project, was held in pretrial detention Tuesday after being summoned for questioning by Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Prosecutor Ouk Savouth said.
"The investigating judge detained him already," he said, adding that the court's Director Chiv Keng has assigned himself as the investigating judge.
Government lawyer Suong Chanthan said the court has charged Mour Kimsan with embezzlement under article 37 of the Untac law.
The suspect could face three to 10 years in prison if found guilty, Ouk Savouth said.
Suong Chanfhan said he filed a complaint after receiving a report from Men Sam An, minister of National Assembly and Senate Relations and Inspections.
Men Sam An is spearheading the government's investigation into World Bank allegations that 43 contracts worth $11.9 million in seven projects were misprocured.
"The Ministry of National Assembly and Senate Relations and Inspection had discovered that Mour Kimsan had embezzled more than $840,000 from four contracts to build roads in Kompong Thom, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces," Suong Chanthan said.
The World Bank has investigated the projects, he added.
As well as a prison sentence, Untac's article 37 also allows for repayment of double the amount embezzled as punishment.
According to a World Bank letter dated June 6, the Bank is demanding repayment of $324,597 from the Rural Development Ministry's section of the rural infrastructure project.
Yim Sovann, Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker and National Assembly anti-corruption commission chairman, welcomed the arrest.
"Corruption is a serious crime that cannot be forgiven, but I would like to appeal to the government to continue this job against other officials," he said.
The arrest will likely deter other officials from indulging in corrupt behavior, he added.
Minister of Rural Development Lu Laysreng could not be contacted, while World Bank spokesman Bou Saroeun declined comment.
Mour Kimsan, the Ministry of Rural Development's former director of the suspended World Bank-funded Provincial and Rural Infrastructure Project, was held in pretrial detention Tuesday after being summoned for questioning by Phnom Penh Municipal Court, Prosecutor Ouk Savouth said.
"The investigating judge detained him already," he said, adding that the court's Director Chiv Keng has assigned himself as the investigating judge.
Government lawyer Suong Chanthan said the court has charged Mour Kimsan with embezzlement under article 37 of the Untac law.
The suspect could face three to 10 years in prison if found guilty, Ouk Savouth said.
Suong Chanfhan said he filed a complaint after receiving a report from Men Sam An, minister of National Assembly and Senate Relations and Inspections.
Men Sam An is spearheading the government's investigation into World Bank allegations that 43 contracts worth $11.9 million in seven projects were misprocured.
"The Ministry of National Assembly and Senate Relations and Inspection had discovered that Mour Kimsan had embezzled more than $840,000 from four contracts to build roads in Kompong Thom, Siem Reap, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces," Suong Chanthan said.
The World Bank has investigated the projects, he added.
As well as a prison sentence, Untac's article 37 also allows for repayment of double the amount embezzled as punishment.
According to a World Bank letter dated June 6, the Bank is demanding repayment of $324,597 from the Rural Development Ministry's section of the rural infrastructure project.
Yim Sovann, Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker and National Assembly anti-corruption commission chairman, welcomed the arrest.
"Corruption is a serious crime that cannot be forgiven, but I would like to appeal to the government to continue this job against other officials," he said.
The arrest will likely deter other officials from indulging in corrupt behavior, he added.
Minister of Rural Development Lu Laysreng could not be contacted, while World Bank spokesman Bou Saroeun declined comment.
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