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Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): On 28 June 2022, Judge Song Bun Rith of the Trial Chamber of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court held a hearing on a former ACU official in connection with the ACU Code of Conduct.
The defendant is Touch Tith Vathana, Male, 27 years old, Occupation: Former Officer of the Department of Legal Affairs, International Complaints of the Anti-Corruption Unit, Phnom Penh.


On January 28, 2022, the Anti-Corruption Unit issued a statement :
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) would like to inform the public and the media that the Internal Investigation Unit of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has been collecting evidence and questioning Touch Tith Vathana, a 27-year-old official at the Department of Legal Affairs and International Complaints, and as a result, the Anti-Corruption Unit has found that the official in question has committed an offense under Article 592 of the Penal Code and Article 32 of the Anti-Corruption Law.

The ACU would like to point out that the suspect, Touch Tith Vathana, profited from his position while he was responsible for examining the complaints for illegal personal gain, and even after he was suspended from his job, (by the ACU), the suspect did not stop extorting the public for his personal gain.

Isn't 27 a tad young to be working in anti-corruption ?
A lot of opportunities to cheat a noble ideal which nature is most appreciated by older people, who have a deeper insight of the consequences of corruption on their lives, in my mind...

Judge Bunnarith said Vathana was arrested on January 28 by the ACU.

He said the accused had been tasked to receive, investigate and research complaints and prepare a report for the ACU to take further action.

He noted that last year, Vathana was suspended from his job because he had used various methods in extorting the money from those who had filed the complaints against corrupt government officials in exchange for taking action.

“While he was suspended, he did not stop his wrongdoing. Although he was no longer responsible for handling the cases, he continued to cheat complainants for his illegal personal gains,” said Judge Bunnarith. “His activities had seriously affected the honour and the reputation of the ACU.”

It would appear, superficially at least, that his posting to the position gave him more opportunity, and furnished him with easy information. So follow up questions, and please don’t laugh-

What was it about his previous conduct that identified him as a suitable candidate for the role?
Who the hell interviewed him for the job?
If he was junior in his position, what of his supervision?

Given that he was in a position to seriously milk the system, and also know all the tricks and methods at their disposal to catch offenders, this genius got caught.
Is there no basic minimum intelligence for joining the police service, or will any thug do?

Freightdog wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:00 am It would appear, superficially at least, that his posting to the position gave him more opportunity, and furnished him with easy information. So follow up questions, and please don’t laugh-

What was it about his previous conduct that identified him as a suitable candidate for the role?
Who the hell interviewed him for the job?
If he was junior in his position, what of his supervision?

Given that he was in a position to seriously milk the system, and also know all the tricks and methods at their disposal to catch offenders, this genius got caught.
Is there no basic minimum intelligence for joining the police service, or will any thug do?

My estimated guess is the answer to all your questions is nepotism.

Looks like he was extorting the extorters, if that's the case some may call him a Robin Hood.

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:15 am

Freightdog wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:00 am It would appear, superficially at least, that his posting to the position gave him more opportunity, and furnished him with easy information. So follow up questions, and please don’t laugh-

What was it about his previous conduct that identified him as a suitable candidate for the role?
Who the hell interviewed him for the job?
If he was junior in his position, what of his supervision?

Given that he was in a position to seriously milk the system, and also know all the tricks and methods at their disposal to catch offenders, this genius got caught.
Is there no basic minimum intelligence for joining the police service, or will any thug do?

My estimated guess is the answer to all your questions is nepotism.

Daddy will be so proud.

AndyKK wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:17 am Looks like he was extorting the extorters, if that's the case some may call him a Robin Hood.

From what I understand he was asking tea money to simply do his job (investigate), common practice unfortunately in this country and extremely hard to avoid...

Kammekor wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 10:31 am

AndyKK wrote: ↑Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:17 am Looks like he was extorting the extorters, if that's the case some may call him a Robin Hood.

From what I understand he was asking tea money to simply do his job (investigate), common practice unfortunately in this country and extremely hard to avoid...

It sounds more like he was threatening to reveal names of complainers to the VIP they wanted investigated.

June 29, 2022
Former Anti-Corruption Unit officer tried over bribery
[excerpts]
A former Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) officer was yesterday tried by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for allegedly seeking and receiving bribes from complainants to proceed with cases as well as from those complained against to drop investigations.

According to the court’s documents, the accused took between $500 and $2,000 from the complainants and also from corrupt officials in exchange for not taking action on complaints against them.

He told the court that he took bribes because he was short of money needed to support his family.
If convicted, he faces a jail term of between two and five years and a fine of $1,000 to $2,500.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501103050/ ... r-bribery/