[Cambodia] Declare assets, ACU tells former officials

The Anti-Corruption Unit has sent a letter of warning to three recently dismissed Senate advisers to declare their assets and debt as required by law.

In a notification signed by ACU chairman Om Yentieng on Monday, the trio – identified as Vong Sopheap, Kouch Cheahuot and Kheang Leap – were given 30 days to declare their assets and debt to the ACU, the official deadline for which is January 31.

According to the notification, despite having recently ended their affiliation with the Senate, the three are still required to make the declarations.

“The ACU . . . has contacted the three former officials, who are required to declare their assets and debts, many times, but they ignored us and cut off communication,†Om Yentieng said in his notification.

“This forces the ACU to make a public announcement inviting the three officials to declare their assets and debt within 30 days.â€

Sopheap, Cheahuot and Leap could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Kong Koam, a senator from the Cambodia National Rescue Party, said he had never heard of the three men, and added that he and his fellow senators had already declared their assets.

According to Article 38 of the Anti-Corruption Law, anyone who refuses to declare their assets could face anywhere from one month to one year in prison, and a fine ranging from $25 to $500.

The ACU keeps public officials’ declarations in sealed envelopes that can only be opened by the body’s president, and only then in the event that an investigation is opened against the official.