Anti-Drug Officer Fired for Drug Use
Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has dismissed a police major working at the Anti-drug Department after he had been found to violate drug laws. Photo: Ministry of Interior
- By Torn Chanritheara
- December 21, 2023 6:30 PM
PHNOM PEN – Minister of Interior Sar Sokha has dismissed a police major working at the Anti-drug Department after he had been found to violate drug laws.
Ministry deputy spokesperson Touch Sokhak said Suon Tosit Pitou, a deputy head of the section of administration at the Department of Anti-Drug Crimes under the General Commission of the National Police, was found to be involved in the use of violence, and storing and using illegal drugs in September, 2019.
Sokha applied national police discipline procedures against Pitou on Dec. 19.
Sokhak cited Sokha’s instruction that any national police officer will be fired without exception if found to be involved in drugs.
This case is the latest action by the Ministry of Interior to clean up police forces.
Earlier this week, a senior Kampot provincial police official faced the same strong measures over drug use.
Prime Minister Hun Manet on Dec. 21 ordered strict expulsion of anyone in the army or police found to be involved in drugs.
He told the ministries of Defense and Interior to take measures against their officers without tolerance.
“Now the new government is implementing a new approach starting with the armed forces,” he said.
Hun Manet said that he implemented such strict action in 2019 when he was commander of the army.
