Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana on Monday presided over the swearing-in of 55 recent graduates of the Royal Academy for Judicial Professions as judges and prosecutors at the Royal Palace’s throne hall in Phnom Penh.
The group finished their studies this year and were accepted by the Supreme Council of the Magistracy on July 17 but had to wait until Monday to take up their positions, according to council spokesman Sam Pracheameanith.
Mr. Pracheameanith said King Norodom Sihamoni did not attend the ceremony, but that the 55 young judges and prosecutors Monday swore on their lives that they would not be corrupt.
“Based on the words that they swore, they will accordingly have to respect the Constitution and all other laws,” he said. “Those oaths are serious, and may make them lose their lives if they violate them.”
Mr. Pracheameanith said the new recruits—the majority of them under the age of 35—would help restock the judicial ranks.
“This number is enough to fill the human-resource needs within our judicial system, even if we need more [people] when we create regional appeal courts in the future.”
