The Interior Ministry promoted three senior police officials to the rank of deputy National Police commissioner in a ceremony Tuesday afternoon, swelling the ranks of deputy commissioners to 15 in apparent preparation for three other deputies to retire.
In the absence of Interior Minister Sar Kheng, who was supposed to preside over the three-hour ceremony at the ministry in Phnom Penh, Interior Ministry Secretary of State Em Sam An announced the three promotions and those of 78 lower-ranking officers.
General Sam An identified National Police commissioner Neth Savoeun’s new deputies as Interior Ministry central judicial department chief Mok Chito, central department of public order chief Him Yan and bodyguard unit chief Touch Naruth.
In a speech, Lieutenant General Chito said he was happy to receive the promotion and would continue to carry out his duties as an officer of the law.
“Today is the greatest day, on which we have been promoted by the King and the government,” he told the crowd.
Lt. Gen. Chito also pledged “to prevent and crack down on all actions that impact national security and a safe society.”
Lieutenant General Naruth said by telephone after the event that three others among Cambodia’s now 15 deputy National Police commissioners would soon retire, but said he was not sure which ones.
