Pailin’s prison director will be replaced after numerous complaints about abusive behaviour towards staff, Ministry of Interior officials confirmed yesterday.

Nov Thoeung, the director of Pailin Provincial Prison, will be transferred to the General Prisons Department at the ministry, officials announced in a ceremony on September 29.

Thoeung will be replaced by Pailin Town Police Chief Lem Veasna.

Heng Hak, deputy secretary of state in charge of prison affairs at the Ministry of Interior, said that several employees had lodged complaints against Thoeung, including one who accused Thoeung of trying to hit him with a shoe.

“It’s not a big deal, but he sometimes is hot-tempered when he is angry,” Hak said. “Once there was a mistake . . . but there is no problem since everything is solved already.”

Hak said Thoeung’s transfer was based on ministry policy and his “technical expertise”.

Siek Puth, head of the prison’s vocational training office, confirmed that Thoeung had many conflicts with staff. “Now that he has been transferred, I feel alright,” Puth said.

“I always said that when it comes to Nov Thoeung, some inferiors love him and some do not since he is very hot-tempered.”

Thoeung could not be reached for comment.

Veasna, the newly named prison director, said he looked forward to “respecting the discipline and enforcing the law properly and transparently”.