Commune Chief Collectors’ Scam Follows Election
The commune election had only just ended on Sunday when the scam had started. On Tuesday, a well-dressed man claiming to be the brother of one of Phnom Penh’s newly reelected commune chiefs visited a business to present an invitation. It was convincing: The father of the chief of Chaktomuk commune in Daun Penh district had died, and you have been invited to the seven day anniversary of the deceased, which is taking place the following morning in Kratie province. Unable to attend? Not to worry. The man offered a quick alternative: “OK, just give the money now. Put it in the envelope with your business card,” he said, his demeanor insistent and impatient in equal measure. On this occasion at least, the cash donation collector left empty handed. Chaktomuk commune chief Un Sam Ang said yesterday that his father had died during the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s, and he was unaware of any funeral invitations being disseminated in his name. …
