Pursat, Cambodia Breaking News: At 9:00 am on 27 July 2019, there was a report stating that the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) detained three people in Pursat.

First, Mr. Bunroeun, Chief of Cadastral Office, Pursat Province
Second, Mr. Chao Vuthy, Deputy Director of Construction Department
Third, Tea Bun Theng, a provincial cadastral official in charge of the port.

The arrests have been confirmed by the government news outlet Fresh News today:

BREAKING NEWS: ACU Arrests Pursat Cadaster Chief
27/07/19 22:05
Pursat (FN) - The director of Pursat Provincial Cadastral Office and two other officials were arrested by the Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) this Saturday morning on 27 July 2019 in Pursat province.

The arrest was led by ACU head, senior minister Om Yentieng.

According to the sources, reported on anonymity, the trio include: Cadastral Office director Leam Bunroeun; Deputy director of construction, Cheang Vuthy; and another official, Te Bun Theng.



=FRESH NEWS

Three nabbed over $100K payment
Soth Koemsoeun
Phnom Penh
Publication date 29 July 2019 | 09:43 ICT

Three officials from the Pursat provincial Cadastral Survey Department are being questioned by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) after they were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of conspiring to commit corruption by demanding $100,000 from a landowner in exchange for issuing a construction permit.

ACU chief Om Yentieng could not be reached for comment, but speaking to the Thmey Thmey daily on Sunday, he said: “The case involves a demand for $100,000 and questioning is ongoing.

“They demanded money from a citizen in exchange for resolving a land issue and providing a construction permit. We arrested so we could question them and check the evidence.”

The report said the suspects were arrested at Moha Leap restaurant in Pursat town on Sunday after they had made an appointment to meet the landowner and be handed the money.

“The source suggested that one of the cadastral officials demanded 50 per cent of the $100,000 as a deposit before issuing a construction permit.

“On Friday, the land owner paid a deposit of $5,000 at a room at the provincial Cadastral Survey Department and on Sunday morning gave them $45,000 more at Moha Leap restaurant where the ACU arrested the officials,” Fresh News said.

San Chey, the executive director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, said that although this case involves $100,000, any money demanded that is more than official administrative service fees should also be considered as corruption.
https://m.phnompenhpost.com/national/th ... 0k-payment

Photo CEN
Phnom Penh, Cambodia Breaking News: Three cadastral officers from Pursat, Leam Bunroeun, Cheang Vuthy and Te Bun Theng were questioned on 31 July 2019 at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, by Mr. Sokha Sokha, the investigating judge. He has ordered that the three men remain in detention in Phnom Penh.

The Deputy prosecutor Kuch Kimlong has indicted Leah Bunroeun as head of the department, Cheang Vuthy as deputy director of the department in charge of construction, and Bunt Theng as an officer of Pursat Provincial Department of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, on charges of money laundering, violating, and abuse of power in accordance with Article 404, Article 592 of the Criminal Code, and Article 35 of the Anti-Corruption Law.

The three defendants were detained by the Police Force of the Anti-Corruption Unit, led by Om Yenti, on July 27, 2019 because they were demanding a $ 100,000 fee from a company owner to build a factory in Pursat province.

So they’ve been indicted now. When will they will be shipped into Prey Sar General population to serve out their sentence?

Or will they stay in Phnom Penh just like the Angkor Princess girl avoiding hard time?

John Bingham wrote: ↑Thu Aug 01, 2019 2:12 pm The Angkor Empress girl stayed there and Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital.

I believe Kith Thieng and Thong Sarath are currently staying at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital. Thong Sarath has a construction project next to it.

It's a running trend.

UPDATE: Officials Sentenced to Jail Terms

Phnom Penh, Cambodia News: A Pursat provincial official was sentenced to 8 years in prison and had property seized by the state in a judgement handed down in Phnom Penh Munipal Court on 27 February 2020.
In this case pursued by the ACU (Anti-corruption Unit) on corrupt officials in the name of social justice, Loeu Bunroeun, the former Director of Pursat Provincial Department of Land Management was charged with corruption and "abuse of power" and was sentenced to eight (8) years in prison and a 8,000,000,000 Riel fine. In addition, the following properties belonging to him as a result of the offenses may be confiscated by the court as state property:
* Real Estate (Real Estate) is located in Borey Peng Huoth (Stung Meanchey Radio), Phnom Penh
* Property (Land of House) Located in Dong Chom Village, Pursat Province
* Property (Land) is located in Spean Thmor Village, Pursat Province
* Two Lexus 570 white gold 2010 car
* A white white KIA Morning 2012 car and some possessions.

The other two officials involved in the case copped lighter sentences: Tha Bunting, a former OWSO official - was sentenced to two years, six months (two years, six months) and fined 5,000,000 (five million) riel, and Chea Vuthy, a former deputy director of the department, was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 5,000,000 (five million) riel for violating the code of office.

The ACU arrested the three officials in a sting operation in a Pursat restaurant on 27 July 2019, when the victim was due to hand over US$100,000 in exchange for a construction permit. The arrest of the three Pursat provincial cadres was led by Senior Minister Om Yentieng, the head of the Anti-Corruption Unit.

Bloody hell!
Who did they upset?

Revenge for something unrelated, possibly
or these guys lost their patron/protection so the next set of vultures swooped down on all their worldly possessions.

Ah well, justice anyway - even if the motivations are twisted.

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Sat Feb 29, 2020 11:50 am Bloody hell!
Who did they upset?

Revenge for something unrelated, possibly
or these guys lost their patron/protection so the next set of vultures swooped down on all their worldly possessions.

Ah well, justice anyway - even if the motivations are twisted.

Now which set of vultures is going to be brave enough to swoop down on the last set of vultures , and bring justice to those that bring justice.