Crackdown from the Top on Slack and Corrupt Practices at the Daung International Checkpoint in Kamrieng district, Battambang

Cambodia News, (Battambang): On 15 February 2021, following information on corrupt practices by Battambang border officials, Kamrieng District Police Inspector Colonel Kim Ponlok has been asked to resign, and Battambang local command has ordered a halt to small vehicle traffic between Cambodia and Thailand. After an investigation showing that he had enabled the release of a people trafficker, who was organizing illegal entry for migrant workers, Mr. Kim Ponlok was ordered to resign his position by Samdech Techo HE, the Prime Minister of Cambodia.

In addition to being disqualified and fired from the ranks of the National Police, Samdech Techo HE also ordered the provincial governor and the National Police Commissioner to continue to take legal action to punish the corrupt man and send him to prison. Do not let other people do this.


Today, 15 February, another five migrant workers were discovered trying to enter Cambodia illegally, hidden in a mango truck at Daung Border Gate, Battambang; there were four Cambodian male workers and a Vietnamese woman.

After the search, the five workers were taken to the Chattalysak Center, while the driver of the car and the truck were sent to the Kamrieng District Police Inspectorate to be punished according to the procedure.

Disgraced officer put in pre-trial detention
Voun Dara | Publication date 17 February 2021 | 22:06 ICT
The Kamrieng district police chief who has been dismissed from the National Police for releasing a migrant-broker in Battambang province has been placed in pre-trial detention.

Provincial court spokesman Phan Ratana confirmed to The Post that Kim Ponlork was charged on February 16 under the Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.

“The investigating judge decided to detain Kim Ponlork on charge of trafficking migrants across the border . . . under articles 8 and 11,” Ratana said.

Prime Minister HE approved Ponlork’s dismissal in a sub-decree on February 15, paving the way for a prosecution against the former district police chief.

Ponlork allegedly released the broker who had illegally brought migrant workers into Cambodia from Thailand to avoid Covid-19 quarantine measures.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... -detention

February 18, 2021
Sacked police chief charged with human trafficking
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea / Khmer Times

The Kamrieng district police chief, Kim Ponlork, who was stripped of his rank and fired from the force was charged at the Battambang Provincial Court yesterday over human trafficking.

The court charged and detained Ponlork, 46, for trafficking migrant workers for illegal work in Thailand after the government prohibited citizens from going abroad for work during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Investigating Judge Khy Chhay identified Ponlork as the former Kamrieng district police chief, living in Wat Kor village, in Wat Kor commune, in Battambang province’s Sangke district.

He said that the accused was charged with “unlawful removal for cross-border transfer” under Article 11 of the Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.

If convicted, Ponlork will face a seven to 15 years jail sentence.

Judge Chhay said Ponlork, who was arrested on Tuesday, is being detained in prison pending trial.

Major Mom Saroeun, a Battambang provincial police officer, told Khmer Times that Ponlork was fired from the police’s framework [deleted from the national police’s list] on Monday after leaked pictures showed that he had allegedly sent five people for illegal work to Thailand on February 8.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50815301/s ... afficking/