A NUMBER of judges and prosecutors have been moved into new positions as part of this year's annual rotation within the court system, the minister of Justice said Wednesday, adding that this was part of a plan to rotate one-fourth of the judiciary every year.

"The formal repositioning of several judges and prosecutors was adopted [Monday] morning, while a decision about some of the others is still in the process," Ang Vong Vathana said, referring to a meeting at the Supreme Council of Magistracy. He declined to specify names or the exact number of judges to be moved.

The director of the Cambodian Defenders Project, Sok Sam Oeun, said that the rotation was part of a program that had been in place for two or three years.

"The system can reduce opportunities for corruption and favouritism because if [judges and prosecutors] stay in the same position for a long time, they can try to build networks," he said.

Opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua said she doubted the rotation would be effective as the judiciary was still politicised.

"No judge or prosecutor should be a part of the steering committee of a political party," she said, referring to Dith Monty, who is both president of the Supreme Court and a member of the standing committee of CPP.