Phnom Penh Court hears case of corrupt clerk
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday heard the case of a Banteay Meanchey court clerk accused of corruption and bribe-taking by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU). In February last year, the ACU arrested 28-year-old Suong Sok Heng, a clerk for provincial prosecutor Phan Vanroath, after they found a stash of cash bribes in his desk drawer. In court Tuesday, he admitted that he had taken money to facilitate court cases. Two other people tried Tuesday as accomplices to the bribery, Sem Sokha, 42, and Uy Sopheap, 69, stand accused of paying Mr. Sok Heng for his assistance in their court cases. … The court clerk then told Ms. Sinet to pay $3,000 in compensation for the accident, even though it was unclear who was at fault, which angered her and prompted her complaint to the ACU. Lawyers for both accused bribe-givers said their clients were innocent and should be acquitted. Kong Tylin, the defense lawyer for Mr. Sok Heng, said his client should receive the minimum sentence because he had cooperated with the investigation against him.
Eang Mengleng
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/phnom-penh-court-hears-case-of-corrupt-clerk-54472/
