4 Police Officers disciplined for offenses including releasing foreigner for money

[CharlieH]

 

The Ministry of Interior has suspended the Svay Teap District Police Chief and disciplined three other officers for accepting bribes in exchange for the release of suspects.

 

 

According to a recent statement from Ang Mongkol, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, four police officers in Svay Teap District have been disciplined following an investigation. The officers involved include Lieutenant Colonel Som Saran, Svay Teap District Police Chief; Major Va Samnang, Deputy Chief of Svay Teap Police in charge of the Crimes Unit; Captain Phat Phal, Deputy Chief of the Immigration Unit; and Captain Kem Sithon, Deputy Chief of the Crimes Unit.

 

The statement indicated that Lt Col Saran was suspended from his position and demoted by two ranks. Meanwhile, Maj Samnang, Capt Phal, and Capt Sithon each received a first written warning.

Major Sok Chuneas, Deputy Chief of Svay Teap District Police, noted that although Lt Col Saran has been suspended, he is still attending work as a new district police chief has yet to be appointed. He further added that there has been no directive from General Thet regarding Lt Col Saran’s future employment status.

 

The disciplinary actions followed an investigation by the Ministry of Interior, which was prompted by a complaint from 24 police officers under Lt Col Saran’s command. In January, the officers had submitted their complaint to Prime Minister Hun Manet, Minister of Interior Sar Sokha, and National Police Chief General Sar Thet, accusing the four officers of corruption and requesting their removal.

 

The investigation revealed that Lt Col Saran was involved in corrupt activities, including selling evidence from traffic accident crimes, such as a Toyota Camry and a homemade tractor. He was also accused of accepting $5,000 in exchange for releasing a Bangladeshi national who had illegally crossed the border into Cambodia earlier this year.

 

Additionally, the investigation found that the four officers had demanded $500 from their subordinates in exchange for rank promotions. They also required the parents of drug suspects to pay $200 each for the release of the suspects and forced subordinates in each unit to pay $400 per room to work in the new district police station building.

 

As reported by Khmer Times