Sam Rainsy Party lawmakers have requested that Prime Minster Hun Sen direct Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana to answer questions in the National Assembly related to corruption in the judiciary.

In a letter sent to Hun Sen on December 28, SRP lawmakers Son Chhay and Mu Sochua asked that the justice minister appear before parliament to answer charges that the Ministry of Justice conspired with Kandal provincial court in requesting the suspension of parliamentarian Chan Cheng’s immunity and the subsequent criminal complaint against Chan Cheng and SRP lawyer Choung Choungy, who are accused of helping an SRP commune chief escape from jail, something they strongly deny.

“Since Excellency Ang Vong Vathana was appointed as justice minister, we have always received information about more and more spreading of corruption in the justice section,” the letter reads, going on to state that officials, prosecutors and judges have profited illegally and served in a politically partisan manner. 

Ang Vong Vathana could not be reached for comment yesterday.