Prime Minister Hun Sen has dismissed Duch Sovannary from his position as secretary of state at the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection after he posted an insulting message on social media about a late official.

Hong Them, an adviser to the ministry, passed away on July 14 from “old age”. He was 82.

“I cannot believe that an official who holds the rank of secretary of state could post such a disparaging message about a late official, even after [minister] Men Sam An asked him to remove it.

“I pay my condolence to [the family of] brother Hong Them, a respected official who had contributed to rebuilding the nation from scratch since 1979,” he said in a Facebook post on July 16.

The prime minister said Sovannary must be dismissed for lacking virtue as a public official.

Sam An said Them was a good official and leader with extensive knowledge and experiences who had contributed significantly to the ministry and the nation

In his controversial Facebook post on July 15, Sovannary alleged that Them was known for treating subordinates with contempt.