The gates of Stung Treng provincial prison, where eight Chinese nationals were reportedly released after being held for illegal immigration. Supplied
One month since it began its investigations into the release from a Stung Treng prison of eight Chinese nationals, who entered the Kingdom illegally from Laos, a specially established joint committee has been unable to form a conclusion.
The committee is reportedly focusing on the role played by the provincial court and prison authorities in the irregular release.
“The case is still under investigation. It has not yet been concluded, and I cannot determine when it will end. This is a large case, with links to the involvement of many parties,” said Ministry of Interior spokesman Touch Sokhak on June 6.
Minister of Interior Sar Sokha established the joint committee on May 2. It consists of a chair and 11 officials from the interior and justice ministries, as well as the provincial administration and police, and was specifically formed to look into the irregular release of the Chinese nationals by the Stung Treng Provincial Court and Provincial Prison of the Chinese nationals.
The eight individuals crossed the border into Cambodia illegally from Laos, through the Trapeang Kriel International Border Checkpoint in Stung Treng province.
The committee was established after the provincial court and prison freed them “without handing over the Chinese nationals to the immigration police of Stung Treng Provincial Police for deportation from Cambodia”, according to a letter signed by Sokha.
“So to make it clear, the urgent joint committee is investigating the precise details of the case, including who may have been involved,” explained Sokhak, adding that because the case is still under investigation, he could not make any further comment, as the case remains confidential.
Once the investigation is concluded, the committee will submit a report to the interior minister, who will make a decision on its findings.
Stung Treng provincial police chief Auth Sivutha, who sits on the committee, spoke with The Post on June 6.
He said the eight suspects were seven Chinese men and one woman. They arrived at the border without legal documents on February 10 and were arrested.
They were sent to the provincial court between February 12 and 13 and placed in pre-trial detention for 14 days before being released by a court order on February 27.
“They crossed the border illegally. They had no documents at all. No passports or other equivalent documents were made available. The committee is continuing to question all relevant parties,” he added.
Sokhak claimed that cases of illegal border crossings into Cambodia have seen a remarkable decline since the tightening of immigration laws at the Kingdom’s land, water and air points of entry.
