Anti-Corruption Unit Cambodia complaint against officials for land-grabbing

A group of families who tried to file a community property land title have filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Unit against Kampot provincial officials for conspiring to illegally sell their land. The complaint was filed on July 19 and alleges a web of systematic corruption by provincial deputy governors Vith Vathana and Bul Kosal; Dang Tong district governor Siv Pheng; Dang Tong commune chief Keo Kim and Thom Thmey village chief Phil Rin.

According to the complaint, Rin offered to represent the villagers to file a community property land title, but was later found to be listed as the “seller” of the land in three contracts dated January 19 and 21, stamped by Kim selling the land to Sambath, Gech and Srey Len.

However, on January 13, a request given to the provincial governor for the community title only listed 20 of the 30 families who were promised to be represented by Rin. Governor Cheav Tay delegated Vathana and Kosal to process the request. The ACU complaint mentions a leaked document of Vathana receiving $50,000 from Sambath and a voice message of Sambath paying Pheng an undisclosed amount.

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50903660/acu-complaint-against-officials-for-land-grabbing/