In an effort to curb what police and Cambodian travelers have denounced as widespread extortion by police officials, the Interior Ministry’s immigration police department has posted notices at Phnom Penh International Airport informing Cambodians that they are not obliged to pay fees upon re-entering their country.
The Khmer-language signs were installed early this month, after complaints by returning Cambodians that immigration police were demanding $10 to $20 per passenger for what they termed as “service fees.” There is no visa fee for Cambodian nationals.
“We had received complaints from [Cambodian passengers] about this scandal for many years,” Phnom Penh International Airport Immigration Police Chief Chhay Bunna said Wednesday. “We must…let people know the government does not order [police] to collect money from Cambodian people and [to] avoid any opportunist who does it.”
Unscrupulous airport officials have pointed to the $20 tourist and $25 business visa fees charged to foreigners to trick Cambodians into paying, Kirth Chantharith, Department for Foreigners director, said Thursday.
“It is not only our police involved in this, but also related workers in Phnom Penh International Airport. Now, we allow Cambodians to learn it publicly,” he said.
Many Cambodian expatriates said they have come to expect demanded bribes as a regular hassle of a visit home. “We are here to meet relatives and visit our own country, but we are always disturbed by immigration police,” said Ean Khom, 35, last week.
Ean Khom, who lives in the US and visits Cambodia every year, said she regularly pays police $20 to be allowed through customs.
“If they asked us for charity or to give voluntarily, it would be no problem, but they force us to pay for what they claim is their service,” she said.
Despite the new signs, airport workers and passengers said the practice continues. “Even though an announcement is posted at the arrival, immigration police still take money from Cambodians,” said an airport worker who asked not to be named.
