Sok Songha, until recently head of the Anti-Drug Crime Office of the Takeo Provincial Police, has been detained in provincial prison for allegedly accepting bribes and abusing his position.

According to a January 20 statement by the Takeo Provincial Court, Songha, 38, is accused of taking bribes and abusing his power in the province between 2023 and 2024. The charges also implicate Sok Kea, also known as Seng Sokkea, 36, who is alleged to have paid bribes to Songha.

Kea is currently detained in Kandal Provincial Prison, but it is unclear whether his detention is related to drug-related crimes.

Songha has been charged under Article 594 of the Penal Code and Articles 32 and 35 of the Anti-Corruption Law.

Under Article 594, any public official found guilty of accepting bribes may face from 7 to 15 years in prison. 

Similarly, Articles 32 and 35 stipulate terms of imprisonment of 2 to 5 years for abuse of power, with the potential to extend this to 5 to 10 years if the offending is deemed serious.

When asked for clarification regarding how much money was involved or how many instances of corruption occurred, the court spokesperson stated that the case file was still being reviewed.

Yang Kim Eng, president of the People Centre for Development and Peace (PDP), believed the case will serve as a deterrent and prevent law enforcement officials from exploiting their positions for personal gain. He also noted that similar cases likely remain undetected and called for further investigations and prosecutions.

“Such cases contribute to the persistent drug trade in Cambodia. The most critical aspect of combating drugs is taking action against officials who accept bribes or facilitate drug trafficking by turning a blind eye to criminals,” he said. 

Kim Eng encouraged the government to intensify its anti-drug campaigns and eliminate corruption, emphasising that the prevalence of drug-related cases is closely linked to corruption within law enforcement agencies.