The Minstery of Post and Telecommunications has appointed a six-man team to investigate corruption allegations involving two Telecom Cambodia employees and some $230,000 missing from the state-owned company’s accounts.

In a letter dated September 14, Minister Prak Sokhon said the experts would probe the accusation, made by the firm’s general director Lay Marivo, who could not be reached yesterday.

Ministry spokesman Hun Saroeun was unable to clarify whether the two employees, from the company’s revenue collection and debt department, were accused of embezzling the money or losing it.

Saroeun explained that although the firm was autonomous, its director was a public official, meaning it fell to the ministry to resolve such cases.

“The general manager claimed he found the irregularities after verifying the table of income and debt, so we need to find out who’s involved in that,” Saroeun said.

“The director himself has done an investigation within the unit too, but the result is not accepted by both sides, so ministry has the right to find out the truth.”

The two staff members, who have been suspended from work, are Sem Sam Ang, the unit’s head, and his deputy Khem Teng Ouen.

Responding yesterday, Sam Ang denied the allegations, saying the executive team, which had control over the finances, was trying to pin the lost money on them.

“We look forward to see the action of the inspection team,” he said.

Telecom Cambodia, an autonomous state entity, provides telecommunication and internet services. It employs 400 staff in Phnom Penh and 200 in the provinces.