Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Cash was charity, not bribe, says arrested official's family

Cash was charity, not bribe, says arrested official's family

Sreng Khoeun (right), the wife of arrested SRP politician Seang Chet, rests at a guest house in Phnom Penh yesterday.
Sreng Khoeun (right), the wife of arrested SRP politician Seang Chet, rests at a guest house in Phnom Penh yesterday. Mech Dara

Cash was charity, not bribe, says arrested official's family

Cash offered to the mother of Kem Sokha’s purported mistress by an opposition commune councillor was intended to help the woman’s family amid the ongoing scandal but was never delivered, the local official’s wife said yesterday.

Sam Rainsy Party member Seang Chet, a commune chief in Kampong Cham, was detained on Sunday by the Anti-Corruption Unit after Sokha’s purported mistress, Khom Chandaraty, complained she had been offered $500 to lie about her relationship with the CNRP leader.

Her complaint, in which she also accused several members of civil society of instructing her to lie to authorities, followed an abrupt U-turn by Chandaraty, who had previously strenuously denied she was Sokha’s lover.

Given that Chandaraty, aka Srey Mom, was being probed by police for “prostitution” and giving false testimony, some, including opposition leader Sam Rainsy, have suggested she was leaned on to change her story.

Authorities, however, have denied this. ACU chief Om Yentieng said his interview with Chet made him “80 per cent” sure a crime had transpired, though many have suggested the scandal is being exploited for political gain.

Yesterday, Chet’s wife, Sreng Khoeun, 43, said the couple had received cash from CNRP supporters abroad, via opposition lawmaker Mao Monivann, to distribute to the family, but Chandaraty’s mother had refused the money.

“I went to call Srey Mom’s mother to my home to receive the money,” Khoeun said. “My husband asked her whether she would take the money or not because she was poor, but she declined, saying she was already having problems and did not want to have further problems.”

Speaking yesterday, Monivann denied Chandaraty’s assertion that the money – sent from supporters in New Zealand – had strings attached. “I gave it to the commune chief so he could give it to the mother of Srey Mom,” he said, calling the money “humanitarian aid”.

“It was not the party’s money, it was from generous people who sent it via a party official; it was not money to shut [Srey Mom’s] mouth.”

Chet’s friend Sab Kosal, who was with the local official when ACU officials “restrained him and placed him in a car”, said the money was given to the commune chief on April 10, and Chandaraty’s mother refused it the next day.

He called for Chet’s release. “He works hard and provides good services for people,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Newest horror film showcases unique Khmer culture, identity

    At first glance, the trailer to new horror sensation The Ritual: Black Nun looks like a western-produced feature film. As the story reveals itself to the viewers, it becomes clearer that this is a Khmer film, with a strong Cambodian identity and close links to

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the