The Ministry of National Defence will establish a disciplinary council to review and evaluate the actions of Chheav Monen, for what the ministry described as behaviour unbecoming an officer.

Monen, who holds the rank of one-star Brigadier General and the honorific title of Oknha, currently serves as deputy director of a technical department of the Royal Cambodian Air Force.

According to an April 1 press release by the defence ministry, he posted a recent video of “inappropriate behaviour” – including dancing to rap music – which was filmed in his office.

“This individual has displayed images and behaviour which are inappropriate for a soldier. His actions have severely impacted the honour, dignity and prestige of the Ministry of National Defence and the entire Royal Cambodian Armed Forces,” said the statement.

The disciplinary council will review the situation and impose penalties, in accordance with the general statutes for serving soldiers, it added.

In addition to his role as a senior military officer, Monen also holds the title of Oknha, granted by Royal Decree in December 2022.

A subsequent October 2024 Royal Decree ordered that all serving civil servants, police officers and military personnel who had previously received the title of Oknha relinquish the title or resign from their official positions.

After this decree took effect, Preap Sovath, a famous singer who also held a position within the military framework, tendered his resignation from the military in order to retain his title.

To date, Monen has not complied with the decree, with a senior official from the Cambodian Oknha Association telling The Post on April 2 that the brigadier general has not submitted a request to relinquish his title.

On social media, he refers to himself as “Oknha Chheav Monen”.

An inter-ministerial committee was established to evaluate the granting or revocation of the title. The Post was unable to obtain clarification from the committee regarding possible actions related to this case.