Study Finds Persistent Concerns in Judiciary

High levels of pre-trial detention and little legal representation for suspects remain chief concerns in the judiciary, the Cambodian Center for Human Rights said Tuesday.

Mang Monika, who led a monitoring project for the organization between July and December last year, told VOA Khmer that police continue misconduct, “including threats and the use of violence or torture, continued to affect a small number of trials.”

“Judges continue to use mobile phones in court,” she added. Mang Monika will present the findings of the project to the Appeals Court in a meeting Wednesday. “The data from the 532 trials monitored to show mixed results,” according to a draft of the report. Those accused of felonies tend to have legal representation, but those charged with misdemeanors were provided less representation than in the past, the project found. The study found an increase in the number of trials where evidence was presented in both Phnom Penh municipal court and in Kandal provincial court, the two courts monitored. Confessions continue to be presented as evidence in both courts, despite allegations that such confessions were coerced through threats or psychological pressure, the report said.

Khieu Sopheak, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, denied police used threats or violence to obtain confessions. And Ke Sakhon, deputy chief of Phnom Penh court said the report was written “beyond the facts.” “I cannot accept this report, and I’ve asked [Mang Monika] to re-correct the mistakes,” he said.

Extracted from VOA News.

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Cambodia: Corruption Law Already Finalize

A long-awaiting for corruption law has been finalize and the government of Cambodia has established new Anti-Corruption Unit to fight with corruption and hired Mr. Om Yentieng to a senior government advisor and head of the Anti Corruption Unit.

Corruption issues is still the main topic for Cambodian political and citizen who are strongly attacking the current government performance. Let wait and see how does corruption law work?

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Cambodia: Corruption Form in Education Sector

In Cambodia, there are so many form of CORRUPTION in various sectors. Education sector is one of the other main sector that work for strengthen human development index in the country. It's true, in order to develop growth, we need human resource, technology, money.... unfortunately, Cambodia education system are really need to strengthen. 

In the public school, the student "schoolboys and schoolgirls" are required to buy candy or cakes from their teachers during study time, or to buy gifts and facilitate end year party for their teachers. And students have been forced to buy lessons and pay daily supplementary tutoring to teachers, especially the students need to pay money to their teacher in order to get good scores. Despite asking money from student in schools, while taking exam or passing certificate. 

This is the main problem that make an effort of human development and education curriculum unsuccessful.

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Tracking Corruption

Burma was ranked next to worst among 178 countries in corruption in a 2010 report released in October by Transparency International, a Berlin-based monitoring group. China was ranked 78th and Vietnam 116th while Cambodia and Laos emerged stand at 154.

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Graft Arrest A Good Star

Cambodians say a new anti-corruption law needs better enforcement and more arrests should follow. 

Cambodian non-governmental groups have welcomed the first arrest of a high-profile official on alleged bribery charges by the country’s new anti-corruption task force, but warned that the "big fish" should not be spared in the drive to root out graft in one of the world’s most crooked governments.

Om Yin Tieng, the head of the Anti-Corruption Unit, this week announced the Nov. 29 arrest of Top Chansereyvuth, the head prosecutor of Cambodia’s western Pursat province, on charges of accepting U.S. $8,000 in bribes from illegal loggers.

Top Chansereyvuth was also accused of extortion and illegal detention, along with his bodyguards Khun Sokna and Yu. A third accomplice, El Vanak, eluded authorities.

A senior government advisor Om Yentieng and head of the ACU, told reporters Wednesday that the 30 agents from the Ministry of Finance’s taxation unit had overcharged vehicle owners as much as $1.20 per annual registration tag. They will face with the loss of their job, after an investigation. 

At the Dec. 1 press briefing, Om Yin Tieng vowed that his unit would continue to crack down on corruption in the country according to a new law enacted in March.

Mam Sitha, president of the Cambodian Independent Anti-Corruption Committee, a non-governmental group, said the arrest was a strong sign that the government plans to take action on graft.

“This action should be effective in the long term,” she added.

Am Sam Arth, an investigator with the local human rights organization LICADHO, called the arrest “a good start” that will lead to increased public confidence in the unit.

He added that the arrest also sends a message to other court officials across the country that corruption will not be tolerated.

“Court officials cannot just act arbitrarily without punishment. The Anti-Corruption Unit should investigate all officials, regardless of their seniority in the government, in order to provide fair treatment for all,” he said.

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