Corruption claim

PHNOM Penh Municipal Court yesterday heard the case against a former government official charged with accepting a US$200,000 bribe in 2008 from a woman on behalf of residents of Dangkor district involved in a land dispute.

Seng Yean, the former deputy general of inspection at the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations, has been accused of accepting the bribe from local businesswoman Di Prem on behalf of 120 families who were opposing a local woman, Huot Sarom, in a dispute over 6 hectares of land in Dangkor district’s Kakab commune.

Huot Sarom’s lawyer, Kao Ty, yesterday accused Seng Yean of accepting the bribe before signing a letter allowing the villagers to claim the land to sell to other businessmen for profit.

Both Seng Yean – who was fired because of the allegations – and Di Prem have denied the charges.

If found guilty, Seng Yean faces between three and seven years in prison, while Di Prem faces between one and three years. No date has been scheduled for the verdict.