Cambodian authorities in May shut down three health clinics in Phnom Penh and last year took control of a nonprofit hospital — a series of events that suggest the continued targeting of organizations linked to The Cambodia Daily.
In May, the Cambodian government alleged that three clinics run by Center of Hope had violated health regulations and had an outstanding $400,000 in unpaid taxes. The government shut down the clinics and deregistered the company even before a June 16 deadline to pay or contest the taxes.
Center of Hope chairman Bart Daniel says he believes the underlying motivation for the clinics’ audit, closure and an unfolding court case is their past connections with the family of the late Bernard Krisher, founder and publisher of the Cambodia Daily.
