Cambodia's new Anti-Corruption Unit has named its first suspect, a prosecutor of a provincial court, in what many see as the first test of the much-criticised unit.
Police arrested the official and two of his bodyguards on Monday morning in Pursat province. The exact reasons for his arrest are unclear, but local human rights workers say he's notorious for corruption and for shooting up a restaurant three years ago.
Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speakers: Keo Remy, spokesman Cambodia's Anti-Corruption Unit; Nget Theavy, Pursat province coordinator, human rights group ADHOC; Son Chhay, MP opposition Sam Rainsy Party; Thun Saray, director, ADHOC
Click here to listen to the audio program (Windows Media)
COCHRANE: When Cambodia's Anti-Corruption Unit was formed three months ago, many critics of the government predicted it would be a toothless tiger, a way to be seen as tackling corruption while carefully managing who is targeted.
So when Om Yentieng, the head of the unit and advisor to Prime Minister Hun Sen, personally led police to the house of its first suspect, it was clearly a declaration of intent.
Spokesman for the Unit, Keo Remy, says there has been a positive response to the Unit's first arrest.
REMY: Yeah we got support, more support from the people. From Phnom Penh and in the civil servants, military police and sometime from everywhere they call me and they're very happy. Even in the Office of the Council of Minister they appreciate that.
COCHRANE: This year, Cambodia ranked 154 out of 178 countries on Transparency International's corruption index.
In April, the Government passed an anti-corruption law that had been 15 years in the making and created the Anti-Corruption Unit headed by the Prime Minister's advisor.
The Unit's first case involves Top Chan Sereyvuth, a local court official who's well known to Nget Theavy... the Pursat province coordinator for human rights group ADHOC.
NGET: There are many stories about him. He used to shoot his gun at people, threaten people and conduct illegal business.
COCHRANE: In 2007, the Asian Human Rights Commission reported that a journalist was assaulted by military police after investigating allegations Mr Top had fired five rounds into a restaurant after becoming intoxicated.
Last year, local media reported his involvement in a long-running land dispute that was moved to the Pursat court from another province where Mr Top had previously worked as a judge.
Keo Remy from the Anti-Corruption Unit, didn't say exactly what charges would be used against Top Chan Sereyvuth but he said there were plenty to choose from.
KEO: Sometimes he used his bodyguards and brother in law to be police justice to arrest someone in Pursat province and the other case that involves with corruption case. Most of the people in the province they want to see the judge in the province to punish that guy.
COCHRANE: Son Chhay, an MP from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said the case will be a test of the government's resolve on corruption.
SON: To have this guy arrested is quite a surprising thing. We hope that it will be the genuine one, not the political one. The government should not hide any evidence, any information regarding to this particular prosecutor.
COCHRANE: Son Chhay said the opposition had been concerned about the recruitment of staff to the Anti-Corruption Unit, alleging family and friends of senior officials had been hired in a way that didn't bode well for transparency.
But Thun Saray, the head of human rights group ADHOC welcomed the arrests as a good first step.
THUN: In the first instance we cannot do everyone. But this kind of medium fish, we can have some hope the big fish also should be scared to do the corruption acts. And the small fish, they also worry about their safety if the Anti-Corruption committee try to work effectively.
COCHRANE: Spokesman for Cambodia's Anti-Corruption Unit, Keo Remy, says this first arrest is just the start.
REMY: It's not only one. It's not the first time. There's going to be more.
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