Ferry Workers Support Boss Against Corruption Charges

Workers at a Kandal province ferry crossing have written to Finance Minister Keat Chhon protesting allegations that their boss is corrupt.

Earlier this month, Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Yim Sokha alleged that Prek Kdam ferry director Phat Sareth had embezzled tens of thousands of dollars by under-reporting the number of vehicles using the prominent Mekong River crossing.

The allegations followed a re­port compiled by some ferry em­­ploy­ees, and forwarded to Yim Sokha, that stated Phat Sareth had failed to report more than 2,000 logging trucks using the ferry in 1998 and 1999. Logging trucks routinely pay a fee of $25 to $30 each to use the ferry, according to ferry staff.

An undercover investigation by the Public Works and Transport Ministry in February seemed to confirm the allegations, according to one ministry official, who asked not to be named.

However, in a July 18 letter to Keat Chhon, 38 ferry employees denied their boss is corrupt and denied involvement in compiling the damning report.

“We, the civil servants, staff and workers of Prek Kdam ferry…did not participate in any activity with anyone who claimed to be em­ployed by this ferry and then is­sued a false report to outsiders.

“They attempt to damage [Phat Sareth’s] reputation, to split our unity,” the letter said.

The letter also said Phat Sareth has come under fire because ferry use is down since the construc­tion of the Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh in 1994.

In a July 4 report to the Min­istry of Public Works, Phat Sareth complained that the ministry de­mands more income than he is able to generate.

“Our income is not enough to cover our expenses,” he wrote, adding that the ministry should help repair Thnol Keng Road, which leads to the ferry, if it wants to boost revenue.

Earlier this week Public Works Undersecretary of State Uk Chan said he rejected Phat Sareth’s complaint and ordered him to produce “many more millions of riel” from the ferry.

The ministry has not yet considered disciplinary action against Phat Sareth for the alleged corruption, Uk Chan said.