Kep City Governor Detained for Abusing Power
Kep city governor Kheng Yorn has been arrested and dismissed from his job for abusing his powers at the expense of the public. Photo: Kheng Yorn Facebook
- By Meng Seavmey
- January 12, 2024 5:15 PM
PHNOM PENH – Kep city governor Kheng Yorn has been arrested and dismissed from his job for abusing his powers at the expense of the public.
Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Jan. 12 that he had signed the dismissal sub-decree based on a credible investigation by the Anti-Corruption Unit.
He warned officials at all levels to strictly follow official guidelines to avoid facing similar action.
Soy Chanvichet, the unit’s spokesperson, said the unit arrested Kheng Yorn in Kep province on Jan. 11 and is detaining him.
Chanvichet could not provide further details because the case is still being filed. However, he summed up that the former official “had abused his power for his own gains which affected the local citizens.”
The spokesperson said gathering relevant documentation can take 48 hours at most.
"After we're done with the process, Kheng Yorn will be transferred to the court for further procedures," he said, adding that details of the charges would be released at the trial.
Kep governor Som Piseth said the city governor position remains open as there has not yet been an official appointment.
According to Piseth, Kheng Yorn had been working as the city governor for more than a year before the arrest.
Since taking office in August, the new government has taken harsh measures against offending officials, including those in the armed forces.
Interior Minister Sar Sokha particularly has also been enforcing discipline among the national police. As of January, more than 50 officials have been demoted or dismissed for violating laws, particularly involving drugs and for incompetence.
In December 2023, Sokha warned police officers that they would be dismissed if they were caught using or dealing drugs, while officers involved in hit-and-run accidents risked demotion or being fired if they didn’t turn themselves in.
Action would continue against corrupt officials who affect citizens and the national interests, cleaning up the government’s internal structure.
Social analyst Yong Kim Eng, president of the People Center for Development and Peace, agreed with this approach to corrupt officials.
“We don't stand those who abuse their power for their own gains when it’s affecting the citizens,” he said.
“It's a shame for those corrupt officials to take advantage of citizens by using illegal methods when they even received high education.
“The farmers who use ploughs are much better than them, because they are earning legally to feed their families."
The analyst called for more interventions in such cases to show transparency and fairness, which will also gain the trust from foreign investors.
"We will be observing the implementation so that we'll analyze the effectiveness of the approach," he said, suggesting that the government must apply the approach to all individuals regardless of their status and links to officials.
He said continuous action is needed along the way to ensure efficiency and transparency.
