By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
More than 60 families living in Kampot Province claim a local bank confiscated land and livestock from villagers after their commune chief ran off with money they had borrowed and left them unable to pay back $40,000 in loans, according to NGO officials trying to help them get it back.
Chhim Savuth, a monitor for the provincial branch of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said villagers approached him earlier this week asking for help. They say that several months ago the Kampot-based Phoum Bank claimed their farmland and confiscated cows belonging to two villagers who were unable to repay loans. Nine other villagers have since gone into hiding for fear they will be arrested, Chhim Savuth said.
Nguon Vanna, a Phoum Bank employee who declined to give his position, denied the villagers' allegations. "It is not true. We've never confiscated farmland or cows from those villagers," he said.
No one, however, is denying that financial ruin has come to Banteay Meas district's Wat Ang Khang Tbong commune, or that the commune's local chief, Touch Saman hasn’t been seen in months.
The trouble started early last year, when Touch Saman and his wife began seducing residents into their get-rich-quick scheme with promises of lucrative commissions on investments, according to Chhim Savuth. Encouraged by the promises, the villagers borrowed at least $37,000 from Phoum Bank, Acleda Bank and several NGOs. When some developed last-minute misgivings, Touch Saman threatened not to register them as residents of the commune, Chhim Savuth said.
Touch Saman disappeared in late June 2005. Neither he and his wife nor the money has been seen since.
District governor Chhay San said that a warrant has been issued for Touch Saman's arrest, and that police and court officials are investigating his whereabouts.
In Siphann, credit department manager for Acleda Bank, confirmed that four villagers from Wat Ang Khang Tbong commune and the commune chief’s wife Chhay Sareth submitted proposals for five separate business loans totaling $5,950 in early 2005.
He said Acleda sued Chhay Sareth for violating the terms of her agreement, but that the bank made an exception for the four villagers after the Interior Ministry issued a letter instructing the banks not to take strong action against them.
(Additional reporting by Elizabeth Tomei)
Chhim Savuth, a monitor for the provincial branch of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said villagers approached him earlier this week asking for help. They say that several months ago the Kampot-based Phoum Bank claimed their farmland and confiscated cows belonging to two villagers who were unable to repay loans. Nine other villagers have since gone into hiding for fear they will be arrested, Chhim Savuth said.
Nguon Vanna, a Phoum Bank employee who declined to give his position, denied the villagers' allegations. "It is not true. We've never confiscated farmland or cows from those villagers," he said.
No one, however, is denying that financial ruin has come to Banteay Meas district's Wat Ang Khang Tbong commune, or that the commune's local chief, Touch Saman hasn’t been seen in months.
The trouble started early last year, when Touch Saman and his wife began seducing residents into their get-rich-quick scheme with promises of lucrative commissions on investments, according to Chhim Savuth. Encouraged by the promises, the villagers borrowed at least $37,000 from Phoum Bank, Acleda Bank and several NGOs. When some developed last-minute misgivings, Touch Saman threatened not to register them as residents of the commune, Chhim Savuth said.
Touch Saman disappeared in late June 2005. Neither he and his wife nor the money has been seen since.
District governor Chhay San said that a warrant has been issued for Touch Saman's arrest, and that police and court officials are investigating his whereabouts.
In Siphann, credit department manager for Acleda Bank, confirmed that four villagers from Wat Ang Khang Tbong commune and the commune chief’s wife Chhay Sareth submitted proposals for five separate business loans totaling $5,950 in early 2005.
He said Acleda sued Chhay Sareth for violating the terms of her agreement, but that the bank made an exception for the four villagers after the Interior Ministry issued a letter instructing the banks not to take strong action against them.
(Additional reporting by Elizabeth Tomei)
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