Embattled Ratanakkiri prison director Tin Sovanny yesterday issued a warning – but no lawsuit – against staff members who have accused him of a slew of crimes, including having sex with an inmate, using prison land to build a house and using prison labour for personal gain.

Sovanny claims that the 32 prison staff who signed a complaint against him on December 6 were attempting to oust him and had not showed up for work.

“I have not decided to file a complaint against them yet. I want them to come back to the unit to fulfill their duties and give testimony about whether I have broken the law and violated prisoners’ rights,” Sovanny said yesterday.

He added that as he was in a position of responsibility, he did not want to “react aggressively”, but said he would file counter-complaints against the prison staffers if they did not return to work.

“If they come back to work, I will not file suit against them. But if they . . . continue to publicise falsehoods to cause chaos in the prison, I will use all legal means at my disposal to punish them.”

Sovanny has denied all of the allegations made against him by the group of prison officers. Following the complaint, the Interior Ministry dispatched an investigations team to the jail.

Uy Hoeun, deputy director General of the Department of Prisons, said the team had questioned prison department staff and police but had not concluded its probe.