The newly inaugurated Court of Justice building in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district. JUSTICE MINISTRY
Prime Minister Hun Sen has called on officials across the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, and all other ministries and institutions to prioritise work efficiency. He emphasised this point in a communication which acknowledges the importance of creating a conducive workspace, but underlines the superior significance of output quality.
The Prime Minister delivered his message on June 26, during the inauguration of the new ‘Court of Justice’ building in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district. The ceremony was attended by numerous officials from the justice ministry and the court.
“Heed this reminder: having superior facilities has value, but the most important thing is efficiency. The quality of the workplace is redundant without it. Consider the ‘rectangular strategy’ which highlights the word ‘efficiency’,” he stated.
“Regardless of the size or convenient location of your workplace, without efficiency, success is unattainable. I must emphasise that establishing a new building or workplace poses challenges, yet the dual necessity of ensuring sustainability and efficiency remains paramount,” the Prime Minister expressed.
The Court of Justice, which will cater to the needs of the Phnom Penh Court of Appeal, the Court of Appeal Office of the Prosecutor-General, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and its corresponding Prosecutor’s Office, was built with a budget of roughly $14.6 million.
Justice minister Koeut Rith explained that the construction of the new complex was necessitated by the inadequacy of the previous municipal court and court of appeal buildings. He pointed out that their size and the number of courtrooms fell short of the current requirements.
The ‘Court of Justice’ building is architecturally distinct from standard administrative buildings. Its design pays homage to the original Court of Justice from King Preah Sisowath’s reign in 1925, which is now the Ministry of Justice’s headquarters. The layout is reminiscent of French courthouses, termed ‘Palais de Justice’, which are renowned for their user-friendly provision of justice services, according to Koeut Rith.
Justice ministry reports reveal a nationwide count of 605 judges and prosecutors, 900 clerks, 20 bailiffs, and approximately 2,353 judicial administration officers. For the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and Prosecutor’s Office alone, there are 463 officials, comprising 42 judges, 25 prosecutors, 188 clerks, and other court administration officers.
The Court of Appeal and the Court of Appeal Office of the Prosecutor-General, the report continues, has a total of 182 officials, including 23 judges, 15 prosecutors, 40 clerks, and 105 court administration officials.
