The head of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Bodyguard Unit has called for “immediate measures” against a man who allegedly settled on land in Preah Sihanouk province by claiming to be part of the unit, but local officials said yesterday they were unaware of the case.

A statement released on Tuesday by Ho Sethy, the chief of Hun Sen’s cabinet, said he had received a complaint alleging that Yu Narin had led a group of people to build huts on private and state land by identifying himself as a deputy chief of the Bodyguard Unit.

The complaint came from a soldier in Prey Nop district’s Ream commune, and Hing Bun Heang, the commander of Hun Sen’s elite Bodyguard Unit, issued his own statement denying Narin’s membership of the unit and calling for action against him.

“Yu Narin does not have his name in the official registry, and he is not a major general or deputy chief of Bodyguard Unit,” Bun Heang said in his statement. “I suggest immediate measures, since this severely affects the reputation of the unit.”

Preah Sihanouk Provincial Governor Yun Min said yesterday that he had never heard of Narin and was not aware of his activities. “I have not known about this case yet, though I will ask the provincial authorities to investigate,” he said.

Prey Nop District Governor Tith Vuthy said he also had not heard of the case. Ream Commune Chief Lin Sarin was unaware of Narin or any such settling of land. “In Ream commune, there is no clearing of state and private land,” Sarin said.