Anti-corruption

Despite a massive 300 percent increase in its budget next year to prepare for looming elections, the National Election Committee (NEC) says it has barely half the money it needs to do its job and is looking for overseas aid for resources to help. ...

Transparency International Cambodia has launched a digital library to help people research injustice, corruption, governance and social issues. ...

Two officers with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces were sentenced to one year each in prison for accepting bribes to secure positions for three men in the government’s National Defence University (NDU) in 2013. ...

The Anti-Corruption Unit on Tuesday published a complaint against the director of the Prey Sar correctional centre for women and children (CC2), alleging that he took bribes from prisoners and families and illegally pocketed government funds. ...

The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has been unable to find evidence corroborating claims that a Health Ministry official has been demanding bribes to allow vehicles to cross the Bavet International Checkpoint in Svay Rieng province, it said in a report obtained Tuesday. ...

A worldwide movement against “grand corruption” can help boost Cambodia’s own domestic anti-corruption efforts against large-scale graft, a governance specialist has argued. ...

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday concluded the trial of a former consular official with the Foreign Ministry accused of falsifying government documents to facilitate the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of luxury timber to Vietnam when he was stationed in Ho Chi Minh ...

The Anti-Corruption Unit has announced the drafting of new laws on whistleblowing and witness protection to safeguard those calling out crime and extortion at the highest levels.The ACU in November 2014 unveiled plans for specific whistleblower legislation, but according to ACU president Om Yentieng, the ...

Anti-Corruption Unit chairman Om Yentieng on Monday denied a claim made in court last week that he had exceeded his authority by ordering the bodyguard of ousted Phnom Penh Municipal Court director Ang Mealaktei to search the home of a murder suspect’s parents. ...

A 12 per cent pay rise for civil servants that will take effect this coming January will be a step towards helping reduce corruption and “unofficial fees,” analysts said. ...

A British businessman jailed for more than 2 1/2 years without conviction was removed from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on the first day of his trial Wednesday after accusing the court of gross malpractice and threatening to walk out himself. ...

The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has appointed a six-man team to investigate corruption allegations involving two Telecom Cambodia employees and some $230,000 missing from the state-owned company’s accounts. ...

Two officials from the Ministry of Tourism were found by the ministry to have taken bribes of up to $3,000 from candidates for tour-guide examinations in Siem Reap, though neither of the officials have been fired. ...

The General Secretariat of the National Assembly held a workshop on using information and communication technology to improve the transparency of the legislative branch. ...

After being monitored by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) for an unspecified length of time, three state-run bodies have been accused of not following legal requirements in the awarding of contracts, and have been told to fall into line or face punitive action. ...

The head of the Anti-Corruption Unit has asked opposition lawmaker Real Camerin to submit documents detailing his income and expenses to clear himself of allegations that he embezzled most of the $55,000 he raised to fund trips to inspect Cambodia’s border. ...

Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng paid a brief visit here this week for a transfer-of-power ceremony from outgoing Provincial Governor Chhit Sokhon to his replacement, Yun Min. ...

In May, the government said it was prepared to pass a law that would provide long-overdue protections to whistleblowers in Cambodia, but the officials responsible for drafting the law have been suffering from a bad case of writer’s block. ...

Prayers, blessings and visits to shrines have replaced cheat notes in this year’s Grade 12 exam. ...

A slew of anonymous graft accusations against two district officials—accompanied by responses of denial—were posted separately to the website of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) on Friday, continuing the agency’s recent surge in such exposure. ...

A group of Phnom Penh traffic police have filed a damning complaint to Anti-Corruption Unit President Om Yentieng, accusing their bosses of skimming their pay, promoting friends and relatives, and striking deals with private transport companies. ...

Senior minister Om Yentieng, the head of Anti-Corruption Unit, said Wednesday evening that his unit will spend roughly $150,000 for deploying voluntary observers to oversee the upcoming national high school exam. ...

In its latest published accusation of public graft, the Anti-Corruption Unit on Wednesday posted to its website anonymous claims that the heads of the National Military Police’s training center in Phnom Penh had been taking hefty bribes to secure enrollment, promotions and oth­er benefits. ...

More than 5,600 people have volunteered to monitor the national high school examination next week, an Anti-Corruption Unit official said Wednesday, more than double the number of observers who supervised the test last year. ...