Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ACU orders nine officials to declare assets

ACU orders nine officials to declare assets

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A man rides past the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) headquarters on Preah Norodom Blvd in the capital’s Daun Penh district. Hong Menea

ACU orders nine officials to declare assets

The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is searching for nine public servants who have not yet declared their assets and liabilities, a biennial obligation, warning that the penalties for those refusing to comply may be doubled.

In a press statement on February 7, the ACU said that in January it received 99.81 per cent of the total declarations required. The unit highly commended the excellent result of returns, saying it showed clear respect for the principles of law and the attentive efforts of anti-corruption focal points in all spheres of government.

However, it noted that as of January 31, nine individuals had not fulfilled their obligation despite repeated attempts to contact them.

“This has forced us to go public and invite them to come in and declare their assets and liabilities. If they refuse to do so, their punishments will be doubled,” it said.

The ACU identified the officials as Tim Sorn, an adviser to the Ministry of Information; Noy Nonn, deputy police chief of the Preah Sihanouk International Airport’s Department of Immigration; Yin Raksmey, head of Media and Information Division for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction; Lim Lok Piseth, an adviser to the Ministry of Commerce.

The four other officials are Sam Sereyroth, deputy director-general at the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection; Som Saban and Serey Manop, both advisers to the ministry; and Tit Rithyny, an assistant at the ministry.

Heng Pisal, deputy cabinet head of the Ministry of Civil Service, was the final name on the list.

According to Article 38 of the Anti-Corruption Law, anyone who fails to declare or misrepresents their assets and liabilities shall be punished by imprisonment from one month to one year and be fined up to two million riel ($500). They will also be forced to declare their assets.

Pech Pisey, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia (TI Cambodia), said that naming these individuals was in compliance with the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Law, which clearly defines the obligations of individuals to declare assets and liabilities.

“I have no specific information and do not know exactly why these individuals did not come in to declare their assets and liabilities. But I know that the declaration procedure is in the law and the unit has a clear timeline. It is possible that these officials have just been negligent or had personal issues,” he said.

Pisey requested the government review the Anti-Corruption Law to pave the way for the declaration of assets of officials to be public, as the current law provides for the declaration of assets and liabilities to be kept confidential. Unless serious irregularities occur, the public will never see them.

According to Khoy Limhong, the assistant to the ACU, approximately 50,000 officials nationwide are expected to declare their assets.

Nop Channarin, spokesman for the National Assembly-Senate relations ministry, told The Post on February 7 that after receiving a formal notification from the ACU, those officials who failed to declare their assets and liabilities would declare them this week.

He said the reason some officials at the ministry had failed to perform this duty was because they were on missions for the ministry and did not intend to evade the declaration. Some said they had gotten confused by the date.

“The leadership of the ministry will continue to advertise for these individuals to come in and declare their assets as soon as they receive the word,” he added.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to