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Showing posts from March, 2022

Police probe government official over missing cash

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  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea    Police in Phnom Penh on Thursday arrested a government official over allegations of stealing more than $ 500,000 from the office of the Ministry of Mines and Energy.   Daun Penh District police officer Major Chuon Sareth said on Friday that the official was identified as Chin Leakhena, 35, Deputy Director of Revenue Management Department at the Ministry of Mines and Energy.   Maj Sareth said, according to the complaint from Hean Thary, Director of Revenue Management Department at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, she gave the keys to her office to Leakhena while she was away from work due to illness from Covid-19 and the cash was found missing when she returned to work.   The investigation against the official is based on the complaint.  

India and Cambodia sign MoU on science and technology

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  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) and the Embassy of India on 31 st March, 2022 signed a Memorandum of Understanding [ MoU] for a project on “Enrichment in Science, Technology and Innovation, Kampot Province, Cambodia (KESTI)of M/o Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI”.   The MoU, which was signed by H.E. Dr. Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia, with H.E. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister and Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), Royal Government of Cambodia, held at Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation and graced by many senior officials of MISTI besides other distinguished guests.   H.E. Cham Prasidh thanked the Government of India and Embassy of India for considering the project and signing the MoU within a short period.             He hoped that this would help the students in STEM education and conveyed that his Minist

Three Taiwanese men sentenced to life in prison for trafficking more than 2 tons of drugs in Cambodia

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  Buth Reakmsey Kongkea          Phnom Penh Municipal Court on March 31, 2022 sentenced three Taiwanese men to a life sentence in prison each for possessing and trafficking more than two tons of drugs committed last year in Kampong Speu province’s Oral district.   Court’s Presiding Judge Im Vannak identified the three foreign accused as Yan Shou, 58; Ly Po Han, 31; and Ye Yong, 48.   They all are Taiwanese nationals and worked with a Taiwanese-owned-company named “ Sin Yin Feng Cambodia Industry Co., Ltd” located in the border of Kampong Speu and  Preah Sihanouk Provinces, in Sangke Satop commune’s Dambang Veng village, in Oral district. “Based on the hearing and the real evidence [ drugs] that police had seized from them on the day of their arrests, the Judges’ council of the Phnom Penh Municipal has found them guilty as accused,” Judge Vannak read the verdict on Thursday. “The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to sentence them to a life sentence in prison each. The cou

Supreme Court hears appeal of ex-official jailed for fraud

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  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   The Supreme Court March 30, 2022 heard the appeal of a former government official who was jailed three years for alleged fraud and also for issuing bounced cheques.   Judge Kong Tarachhath identified him as Ma Chinthean, 45, a former Ministry of Interior official from Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district.   Judge Tarachhath said that in May 2019, Chinmathean received $500,000 from a real estate businesswoman named Khan Khiev, after he promised her he would help her secure a licence for an online casino operation in Preah Sihanouk province.   He noted that after taking the money he did not get her the licence as promised.   Judge Tarachhath said that when the plaintiff demanded her money back, Chinthean later issued two cheques for $ 500,000 to her.   “When the plaintiff went to retrieve the money from his bank account, the accused did not have the money and the cheques bounced, ” he said .   Judge Tarachhath said that to claim for damages, the plaint

Supreme Court Upholds Indonesian Drug Trafficker’s Life-Conviction

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the life sentence meted out to an Indonesian national for transporting more than five kilogrammes of crystal meth from Laos into Cambodia via the border checkpoint in Stung Treng province in 2019.   Presiding Judge Soeung Panhavuth identified convict as Nurul Fadli Putro, 45, a tourist.   “Based on the convict Nurul Fadli Putro’s confession during this appeal hearing on March 23 as well as the real evidence that police had seized from him on the day of his arrest, the Judges’ Council of Supreme Court has found him guilty as accused,” Judge Panhavuth read the verdict.   “Therefore, the Judges’ Council of Supreme Court has decided to uphold the ruling of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court as   effected and close his appeal,” he said.   Judge Panhavuth said that, Nurul Fadli was sentenced to life in prison by the Stung Treng Provincial Court on February 13, 2020. The court also ordered fined him about $25,000. He said the con

Chinese man sentenced to 22 years in prison by Cambodian court for trafficking 8 kilograms of drugs

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea    Phnom Penh Municipal Court on March 30, 2022 sentenced a Chinese man to 22 years in prison for allegedly possessing and trafficking more nearly 8 kilograms of ice, ecstasies [ or MDMA], and Ketamine committed last year in the capital.   Court’s Presiding Judge Sin Sovannroth identified that accused as Fan Yi, 49, the Chinese tourist living in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar district, in Chroy Changvar commune.   “The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has decided to sentence the accused Fan Yi to 22 years in prison. The court orders him to pay 50 million riels [$ 12,500] to put in the state’s budget as a fine,” judge Sovannroth read the verdict on Wednesday.   He said that Fan Yi was charged with “drug transport and trafficking” under Article 40 of Law on Drug Control.   He stated that Fan Yi was arrested on May 12, 2021 at a bus station in Prampei Makara district’s Boeng Pralit commune, in Phnom Penh.   He went on to say that Fan Yi was arrested after he attempted to tran

Malaysian based Muslim organisation DMDI sets up food bank project in Cambodia

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  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea Malaysia’s Malacca state Governor Tun Mohd Ali Rustam who is also the president of the Malaysia-based DMDI, and the organsation’s vice-president Senior Minister Dr Osman Hassan yesterday presided over the inauguration of a food bank project to help the poor in Cambodia. The DMDI or Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam (Malay World Muslim World) was established in 2000 in Malaysia to unite Malay Muslims, such as promoting cooperation in all aspects of development among Malay Muslims with the people as well as other countries in the world. In 2012, the DMDI established its Secretariat in Cambodia, headed by  Osman. The DMDI Cambodia Food Bank project, initiated by Ali Rustam and Osman with the support of Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim aims to source for donations from local and foreign philanthropists and help the poor in Cambodia. Osman said that the Food Bank of Cambodia will play an important role in helping to better the lives of poo

Father Charged for Beating two-year-old-daughter to death

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   A 56-year-old-man was yesterday detained and charged by Pursat Provincial Court for beating his two-year-old-daughter to death while drunk in Kandieng district last week.   Pursat Provincial Penal Police Deputy Chief Lieutenant Colonel Chuon Sokhom yesterday identified him as Mov Tuok, a fisherman living in Kandieng district’s Raingtil commune.   Lt Col Sokhom said that the accused was charged with “intentional act of violence with aggravating circumstances [the death of victim]” under Article 224 of the Criminal Code.   If convicted, he faces between seven and 15 years in prison.   Lt Col Sokhom said Tuok was arrested on Sunday after beat his youngest daughter to death due to drunkenness on Friday after becoming angry that his 51-year-old-wife was not at home to cook for him.   He added that the accused was arrested after provincial criminal investigation unit officers in collaboration with the Interior Ministry’s Murder Investigation Team and the S

Fake Secretary of State Charged and Jailed over Forging Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Letter

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  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged and jailed a man for allegedly forging a sub-decree purportedly from Prime Minister Hun Sen which appointed him as a Secretary of State working with the Council of Ministers. He allegedly used the fake document to cheat a man out of nearly $9,000 by promising to help secure a job as an official in the Tourism Ministry.   A court document identified the accused as Try Sarithy, 35, living in Kandal province’s Takhmao city.   Sarithy also known as Chhun Hongly was charged with “Fraud, Forging the Public Document, the use of forged public document, and the Use of Uniform Similar to Police or Military Uniform” under Articles 377, 378, 629 , 630 and 616  of the Criminal Code.  If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. He was arrested on Monday.   Phnom Penh Municipal Police Officer Major Heng Bunarith told Khmer Times yesterday that according to police’s investigation, Sarithy on January 5 used his fak

Court upholds 7-year jail term for farmer

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   Phnom Penh Appeals Court on Tuesday upheld the 7-year jail term for a 45-year-old man for killing his wife in Koh Thom district in Kandal province in 2017.   The Court’s Presiding Judge Pol Sam Oeun identified the accused as Sok Thner and his wife as Mom Saveth, 43.  Both are farmers and had three children living in Prek Chrey commune.   Judge Sam Oeun said that the accused was charged with intentional act of violence under Article 224 of the criminal code. “The Phnom Penh Appeal Court considered the accused Sok Thner’s 7-year jail term given by Kandal Provincial Court was made in accordance with the law and his sentence had been already reduced by the provincial court and is little for the crime that he had committed,” Judge Sam Oeun read the verdict.   “Therefore, the Phnom Penh Appeal Court did not consider the accused’s request for his sentence to be reduced.  The Phnom Penh Appeal Court has decided to uphold the ruling of Kandal Provincial Court

Parents sue school director for slapping student

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   A primary school director has been sued by the parents of a student who he allegedly slapped and caused injuries to the eardrum in Banteay Meanchey province.   The incident took place at 3pm on Friday at the Poi Sophy Primary School in Serei Sorphoan city’s Kampong Svay commune.   Kampong Svay commune deputy police Captain Phuong Sareth yesterday identified as the school director as Ouch Vanna from in Kampong Svay commune’s Pei village.   He said the school allegedly slapped three students who were gambling on the school grounds.   Capt Sareth identified the three students as Vong Chansina, 15; Kim Leang, 15; and San Sopheap, 16, all in Grade 6.     He said that according to three students, on the day of the violence, they were playing coffin shoes and betting with money in the school’s courtyard during their break time. “While they were playing, the school director (Ouch Vanna) arrived, caught them and slapped them hard at least five times each,

Cambodia' police arrested 6 Taiwanese nationals and seized 700 kilograms of drugs

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea  Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Sunday detained and charged 6 Taiwanese men for allegedly possessing and trafficking more than 700 kilograms of mixed drugs committed in Phnom Penh and Kandal provinces last week. According to court's document obtained on Sunday by Khmer Times, the 6 Taiwanese nationals  are identified bad as Zhang Tong Sian, 55; Jiang Ming Da alias Zhoug Ji Qi, 49; Wang Lu Li, 41; Li Yang,  34; Jen Hao Jun, 38, and Chen Poyen, 29. They all are the Taiwanese tourists. They were charged with drug possessing, transport and trafficking under Article 40 of Cambodia's Law on Drugs Control. If convicted, they are facing the punishment a life sentence in prison each. Anti-drug police officer Major Heng Bunna told Khmer Times on Sunday that among them, Zhang Tong Sian,  Jiang Ming Da alias Zhoug Ji Qi, and Wang Lu Li,  were arrested on March 21  by police in anti-drug police department in Military of Interior in Russei Keo and Chamkar Mon districts i

Cambodian police arrested three Taiwanese nationals and seized more than 100 kilograms of drugs in Phnom Penh

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea Police in Anti-Drug Department in the Ministry of Interior on March 22, 2022 arrested three Taiwanese nationals and seized more than 100 kilograms of mixed drugs from them in Phnom Penh. Anti-Drug Police Officer identified the three Taiwanese suspects as Li Yang, male, 34; Jen Hao Jun, male, 38, and Chen Poyen, 29. They are the Taiwanese tourists. He said that they were arrested after they have transportaed drugs from Cambodia-Thai-Border, in Koh Kong province, to stock at their rental houses in Phnom Penh's Sen Sok district in order to distribute it to users in the capital. He emphasized that after their arrest, police seized a total of 107,178. 23 grams ( more than 100 kilograms) of ice, Ketamine, MDMA ( ecstasies), and Nimeta Zepam, as well as other relevant materials from them. He added that they are allegedly accused with drug possessing, transport and trafficking under Article 40 of Cambodia's Law on Drugs Control. If convicted, they are facing the p

About 640 kilos of ketamine seized at Laos border

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Buth Reaksmey Kongkea Cambodian anti-drug police in collaboration with Laotian authorities have seized about 640 kilogrammes of ketamine at the Cambodia-Laos border in Stung Treng province’s Borei O-Svay district. Cambodia’s Border Liaison Officer based at the border Major Nuon Bunthoeun told Khmer Times today that at about 2am last night, Cambodian police and Laotian athroities cracked down on three tractors which were carrying the drugs from Laos’s Champasak province into Stung Treng province’s Borei O-Svay district. He said during the crackdown, the drivers fled into the forests and left their tractors on the road, inside the Laos border. Maj Bunthoeun said police inspected the tractors and seized 32 sacks containing big packages of ketamine weighing nearly 640 kilogrammes. He added that the drugs and tractors were later handed over to Laotian authorities because they were seized inside the Laos border.  Photos supplied 

Commune police chief arrested over wife’s fatal shooting

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  Buth Reaksmey Kongkea   A commune police chief was arrested last night after he shot one of his two wives to death while drunk in a fit of jealous rage in Preah Veng province’s Sithor Kandal district. The murder took place at about 8:30pm in Sithor Kandal district’s Phnov I commune.   District police deputy chief Lieutenant Colonel Lun Samnang identified the suspect as Major Mao Sovannhong, 53, the Phnov I commune police chief and the victim as Sok Muoy, 51, a farmer.     Lt Col Samnang said that on the night of murder, Maj Sovannhong and his wife participated in his friend’s daughter’s birthday party in the village.   He said that after he became drunk and while returning back home, the suspect got into an argument with the victim and alleged that she had contacted a young man at the party.   Lt Col Samnang noted that during the argument, the suspect withdrew a pistol from his waist and fired four shots at her head, causing her to die at the scene.     “He was arrested