Four NGOs asked the government yesterday to explain the decision to promote Lao Saroeun to an undersecretary of state position in the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, even though he has not been cleared of alleged corruption.

“In proper practice, people under investigation for alleged corruption or misconduct shall be suspended from their position and cannot be employed or promoted until they are cleared of all allegations,” a press release by the NGOs Transparency International Cambodia, the Coalition for Integrity and Social Accountability, the Cambodian Center for Independent Media and the Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee said.

Saroeun is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) for alleged embezzlement in his last position as the director-general of the state-owned Telecom Cambodia.

In February, ACU head Om Yentieng encouraged Telecom Cambodia employees to bring related evidence to the authorities, the Post reported.