A WEEK after Phnom Penh registration officials announced they had run out of film,

several photo shop owners told the Post that they had bought film presumed stolen

from the centers.

A photo shop owner, who declined to be named, said he had bought 20 packets of film

from two men.

"They told me that they found the film [at the station] and said it was left

over," he said.

Each pack had cost him $6, a saving of $2 on the market price, he said, adding that

other shops in his area had also bought packs of film.

Other shopowners visited by the Post said they had been offered film, but they had

not bought any.

Vice chairman of the NEC, Kassie Neou, said that it would be easy to find out if

film had been stolen.

"One pack of film has 10 sheets, and each sheet records four pictures. It is

very easy to compare the remaining stock with the number of voters registered at

that station," he said. He believed that cases of theft were not widespread

as there was not much film to begin with.

Prom Nhean Vichea, chairman of NEC's media committee, said he had heard the story,

but could not confirm it. "We do not know whether this is true or not. The inspectors

will investigate," he said.