Angkor Wat authority accused of extortion and corruption

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Angkor Wat authority accused of extortion and corruption

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Culture and Fine Arts Minister Phoeung Sakona said on Thursday that she would investigate allegations by a senior opposition lawmaker that the authority managing the world famous Angkor Archeological Park is extorting villagers and making sweetheart land lease deals.

[In a letter, Mr Chhay] says villagers who have been granted permission by the Apsara Authority to live in designated areas of the park are increasingly being pressured by Apsara employees to leave unless they pay them hundreds of dollars. It also cites a report from Apsara itself that, he claims, says tycoon Sok Kong was sold a 99-year lease to 23 hectares inside the park for $9.66 million.

Contacted on Thursday, Mr. Chhay said that hundreds of park residents had approached the CNRP in the past few weeks to complain of a surge in demands for bribes by Apsara employees to keep their homes.
“We want the minister to explain clearly whether some Apsara Authority officials are really committing crimes like the people claim,” he said. “We recently investigated and found that officials are not implementing the law and that they are really extorting money from local people.”

Mr. Chhay said his research into local property prices also suggested that the land leased to Mr. Kong could be worth up to $300 per square meter, which would bring the price of the entire plot to $69 million, far more than what Mr. Kong reportedly paid. And according to the Apsara report, he added, Mr. Kong was supposed to pay the entire price of the lease up front but has so far delivered only $2 million...
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/cnrp ... ms-128818/
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