Takeo provincial deputy military police commander Nget Chanthy and Sin Sovannarith, an assistant to the anti-drug office at the provincial narcotics office, are under investigation for accepting bribes. FB Nget Chanthy
The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) is advancing its investigation against Takeo provincial deputy military police commander Nget Chanthy and Sin Sovannarith, an assistant to the anti-drug office at the provincial narcotics office. The investigation follows allegations that the pair accepted bribes in exchange for turning a blind eye to drug-related crimes and illegal gambling.
National military police spokesperson Eng Hy confirmed on Monday, January 6, that both officials were sent to the ACU on January 5 to face further legal procedures.
Meanwhile, a third official, Luy Sarom, chief of the Trang Kak district military police, has been reassigned to the Takeo provincial military police command to face disciplinary measures.
All three officers were detained on January 1, under the orders of General Sao Sokha, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and commander of the National military police.
The arrests followed a detailed investigation by the judicial military police of Kandal province, which linked the officers to criminal activities including drug trafficking, violent crime and illegal gambling in Kandal, Kampong Chhnang and Takeo provinces, as well as Phnom Penh.
Hy explained that in early November 2024, a team from the Kandal provincial and the national military police force investigated a murder case in Kandal’s Arey Ksat town, leading to the arrest of four suspects.
The suspects were reportedly involved in torture resulting in death and drug distribution. During the operation, authorities seized approximately seven kilogrammes of drugs, one handgun, a home-made rifle and other drug-related paraphernalia.
Based on confessions from the suspects, the military police expanded their investigation, ultimately implicating the three Takeo military police officers. They allege that Chanthy and Sovannarith accepted bribes in exchange for failing to suppress illegal activities, leaking investigative information and obstructing justice.
“Accordance with the suspect's confession and based on the evidence, the judicial police officer of Kandal Provincial Military Police on January 5 sent Chanthy and Sovannarith to the ACU, in connection with accepting bribes to overlook drug offenses and illegal gambling, as well as leaking confidential details of ongoing investigations,” Hy said.
Luy Sarom, although not directly involved in bribery, has been disciplined for neglecting his duties and reassigned to a new role, he added.
ACU spokesperson Soy Chanvichet said that as the ACU proceedings are ongoing, it is not yet known what action will be taken.
“We cannot yet say. We must wait until the end of the procedure,” he explained.
The ACU received 520 complaints in 2024, including 141 anonymous submissions. Of these, 132 complaints were deemed unrelated to corruption, and 185 were found irrelevant after further analysis. Seven complaints were resolved with ACU intervention, 14 cases were sent to court, 161 are under investigation, and 20 remain under monitoring.
In December alone, the ACU processed 45 corruption-related complaints.
