Updated Nov. 13, 2024, 10:18 a.m.
Three senior government officials and a businessman have been arrested in a corruption and fraud crackdown that follows the recent arrests of two former advisers to Senate President Hun Sen, according to a Phnom Penh Municipal Court order issued on Tuesday.
The government’s Anti-Corruption Unit has arrested gemstone and construction businessman Uth Thy, former high-ranking police official Muong Khim, Pursat Province deputy Gov. Lay Viseth, and Kan Sok Kay, the former governor of Kandal province’s Lvea Em district, the order said.
Kan Sok Kay’s arrest is linked to allegations against Ly Sameth, a former adviser to Senate President Hun Sen.
In a six-minute video posted on Hun Sen’s Facebook page last week, Ly Sameth confessed to defrauding millions of dollars from people who sought favors and government positions. Authorities arrested him in Sihanoukville on Nov. 4.
Hun Sen wrote on Facebook last month that Ly Sameth had defrauded several Cambodians over the last two years, including one incident in which US$10 million was paid.
That post was apparently prompted by a video message he received from Kan Sok Kay who said he gave US$300,000 to Ly Sameth to obtain a different appointment in Kandal province, according to Hun Sen.
“I never accepted intervention from anyone, no matter what request or bribe,” Hun Sen wrote.
Corruption’s deep roots
Another former adviser to Hun Sen, Duong Dara, was arrested on Oct. 14 and charged with fraud after returning from a business trip to China.
That arrest was related to a complaint filed by villagers in southern Svay Rieng province that accused the Phnom Penh-based Phum Khmer Group of scamming them out of investments that ranged between US$40,000 and US$120,000.
Duong Dara, who was removed from his position as secretary of state at the Office of the Council of Ministers last week, is believed to be a close friend of Phum Khmer’s chief executive, Som Sothea.
The court has charged Ly Sameth, Duong Dara and Muong Khim with trafficking in passive influence, a form of bribery that could result in five to 10 years in prison.
Uth Thy, who holds the title of Oknha – bestowed on Cambodians involved in business who are committed to charity or generous with donations to the government – has been charged with two counts of five years in prison for active influence.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Y Rin told RFA on Wednesday that Lay Viseth and Kan Sok Kay will face attempted bribery charges. They were arrested on Tuesday, he said.
RFA was unable to reach Anti-Corruption Unit spokesman Soy Chanvichet to ask about the arrests.
Corruption is deeply rooted in Cambodian society – including political corruption and bribery – so the arrests could be a good sign, Meng Heang Tak, a Cambodian-Australian lawmaker in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, said in an interview with RFA.
But efforts to eliminate corruption need “a high commitment to be effective,” he said.
Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed.
This story has been updated with the charges for Lay Viseth and Kan Sok Kay.