The Por Sen Chey Social Affairs Centre, better known as Prey Speu, is facing a probe over alleged human rights violations, an opposition party lawmaker said yesterday.

Ke Sovannaroth, a Cambodia National Rescue Party MP who sits on parliament’s health commission, will visit the centre on Tuesday to investigate the recent arrests in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district, according to a letter addressed to Minister of Social Affairs Vong Soth.

“We want to know the conditions in which they staying, and if they get any training or not,” Sovanroth said. “Even though they are homeless or beggars, the centre must care about how they live . . . to ensure human rights.”

According to Sok Penh Vuth, Daun Penh district’s deputy governor, 227 people were detained in four roundups in recent weeks, targeting the homeless, beggars, drug users and sex workers, for reasons of “public order and security”.

A security guard at Prey Speu, who declined to be named, said the incarcerated have enough to eat, adding that some were released and some remained at the centre.