Alleged corruption

Nearly 250 villagers have petitioned their commune chief to sack the police chief in Kampong Chhnang for gross corruption.

Ven Saron, a security officer in Rolea Ba’ier district’s Choeung Kreav commune, said the villagers wanted police chief Mot You sacked because he let gangsters run free, terrorising villagers.

“We tried to arrest gangsters who made problems in the village and bring to them to the police chief, but he released them and ordered villagers to pay the gangsters 300,000 riel [about US$75] each.”

Villagers also accuse Mot You of bending the law for his relatives and associates, including instances of him allowing them to own and use dangerous weapons.

Mot You yesterday declined to comment.

Sor Son, commune chief of Choeung Kreav, denied the villagers’ accusations.

“I will not accept the villagers’ request, because what they have accused [Mot You] of is not true.”