Court Clerks Accused of Taking Bribe

Two Phnom Penh municipal court clerks were arrested after authorities alleged they tried to solicit a $1,500 bribe from a Sihan­oukville brothel owner, said Ke Sakhan, deputy chief of Sihan­oukville court.

Sun Pet and Chot Vanchan are accused of asking brothel owner Oeur Vannara for $1,500 to help him in a court complaint. He was accused of buying a girl from Phnom Penh to work as a prostitute.

The clerks received only the first $500 installment of the bribe when they were arrested last Thursday after Oeur Vannara sent a complaint to police. Oeur Vannara said $1,500 was too much.

Mam Mith, a Sihanoukville court prosecutor, said Sun Pet and Chot Vanchan have been charged with taking bribe money. They are being held in the Sihanoukville prison.

The clerks work for Phnom Penh Municipal Court Judge Un Banna, who traveled to Sihan­oukville along with another clerk after they received a complaint about the girl sold to Oeur Vannara, Ke Sakhan said.

Only Sun Pet and Chot Van­chan were arrested, however, because the judge and his other clerk did not go to Oeur Van­nara’s home to receive the bribe money, Ke Sakhan said.

Oeur Vannara told police he gave a woman from Phnom Penh $100 to buy a girl, but later sent her home because she was too young to be a prostitute, Ke Sakhan said.

Afterward, the woman who sold the girl to Oeur Vannara was arrested, and a complaint was filed against him, accusing him of buying a girl for his brothel.

Authorities allege that Sun Pet and Chot Vanchan told Oeur Vannara that if he paid $1,500 to $2,000, they could contact high officials in the court who would be able to help him, Ke Sakhan said.

The Cambodian judiciary system has a reputation of being corrupt, and it is widely known that court employees accept bribes.

Ke Sakhan said the investigation is continuing.

 

 

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