King Father Leaves Final $21,000 to Children

The late King Father Norodom Sihanouk’s personal wealth of just $21,000, which was deposited in a bank account in Paris, will be given to his children, two members of the royal family said Wednesday.

Prince Sisowath Thomico—formerly a private secretary to the King Father and now currently a member of the opposition CNRP’s steering committee—said the late King Father’s personal finances amounted to just 16,000 euros, or $21,600, which was deposited in a Paris bank.

“It’s about 16,000 euros,” Prince Thomico said.

“Based on the law, this remaining money will be given to his children, but I don’t know who will get how much,” he said.

Norodom Sihanouk passed away on October 15 last year in Beijing from a heart attack at the age of 89. When his body was returned from Beijing, an estimated 1 million people lined the streets of Phnom Penh to bid him farewell.

Keo Puth Rasmey, husband of the King Father’s youngest daughter, Princess Norodom Arun Rasmey, said the account in Paris held only a small amount of money because Norodom Sihanouk had never amassed wealth, but had given what he had to the Cambodian people.

“After he spent money on the palace’s affairs, he spent the money on building homes for people in the provinces. He also offered gifts to the poor people,” Mr. Puth Rasmey said.

“His Majesty only had this small amount of money because he was not a capitalist and a materialist.”

Mr. Puth Rasmey added that all the property that the King Father had in Cambodia belonged to the government.

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