Monitors Question Casino Building New Election Body Office

Election monitoring groups are questioning the National Election Committee (NEC) recent decision to let a Phnom Penh casino fund its new multi-million dollar headquarters, a move they said would cast further doubt on the body’s independence. NagaCorp, the owner of Phnom Penh’s only licensed casino, NagaWorld, announced its plans on Monday to pay for a 15-story building for the NEC across the street from its casino in exchange for the rights to expand its gaming operations on NEC land next door. … Jared Tan, Nagacorp’s assistant finance manager, said it was part of a $369 million growth plan for the casino over the next three years. … As for letting a private firm pay for the NEC’s headquarters, there may be nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world, said Laura Thornton, country director for the National Democratic Institute, a Washington-based group with links to the U.S. Democratic Party. …… NEC Secretary-General Tep Nytha dismissed the concerns. …