Serious Allegations of Visa Corruption at Sihanoukville International Airport
Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 8:42 pm
Cambodia News (Sihanoukville): On 16 November 2019, a source reported in local news that about 1,000 foreigners arriving in Cambodia at Kaong Kang International Airport in Sihanoukville have been cheated by the immigration officers there over Tourist Visas(T) as well as Business visas(E).
The person who reported this said that they are concerned that the honor of the Cambodian police and Immigration Department is at stake if the government doesn't put a stop to this extortion of foreign visitors, because they will denounce the corruption and comment negatively on their experience of their visit to Cambodia.
Mr. Kao Sarana, the director of the immigration department of Kaong Kang International airport and Mr. Nam Sovannara, director of visas at the airport, are reported to have no scruples over abusing their position to cheat the incoming foreigners, asking US$42 per person for a Tourist Visa(T), and $60 for a Business Visa(E). The regular official price is $30 for tourist visas and $35 for business visas.
The officials allegedly shared out the money gained by corruption among all the airport team, with the higher officials getting the biggest share of the takings. Foreigners who refused to pay a bribe were reportedly refused visas, and passports were confiscated or "lost".
The person who reported this said that they are concerned that the honor of the Cambodian police and Immigration Department is at stake if the government doesn't put a stop to this extortion of foreign visitors, because they will denounce the corruption and comment negatively on their experience of their visit to Cambodia.
Mr. Kao Sarana, the director of the immigration department of Kaong Kang International airport and Mr. Nam Sovannara, director of visas at the airport, are reported to have no scruples over abusing their position to cheat the incoming foreigners, asking US$42 per person for a Tourist Visa(T), and $60 for a Business Visa(E). The regular official price is $30 for tourist visas and $35 for business visas.
The officials allegedly shared out the money gained by corruption among all the airport team, with the higher officials getting the biggest share of the takings. Foreigners who refused to pay a bribe were reportedly refused visas, and passports were confiscated or "lost".