Ministry of Justice spokesperson Kim Santepheap has reiterated that the management and disposal of corpses infected with Covid-19 is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health.

The reaffirmation comes as the Kingdom grapples with the ongoing community outbreak of Covid-19, with infections and deaths from the disease rising at an alarming level.

In a Facebook post on March 28, Santepheap said if people suspect a corpse has been infected with Covid-19, the family of the deceased must cooperate with the ministry to dispose of the body or they will face a fine as well as criminal penalties. The families must cooperate with health officials to take samples from corpses for analysis.

“While waiting for the results of the tests, the body must remain in the control of the health ministry in cooperation with other relevant authorities,” he said.

Santepheap said if the results of the sample return negative for Covid-19, the ministry would hand over the body to the family for their further arrangements.

But if the result is positive, it falls under the jurisdiction of the ministry in cooperation with sub-national authorities as stated in articles 15 and 25 of the sub-decree on health measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other contagious diseases.

The articles state that an individual who handles a body that has died from Covid-19 would be punished with a fine of five to 20 million riel ($1,250 to $5,000) and are subject to criminal charges.

Phnom Penh Municipal Hall spokesman Met Meas Pheakdey could not be reached for comment on the matter.

But Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng has said that a team from the municipal administration had been clearing land near the foot of Oral Mountain in Kampong Speu province to build a crematorium for the disposal of corpses with Covid-19 after receiving approval from the provincial hall.

“We cannot build a crematorium for Covid-19 victims in urban areas because it is contagious. The crematorium has to be constructed according to technical standards.

“Therefore, I decided to order some equipment from Thailand and build four electric crematoriums on 10ha of land next to Oral Mountain in Kampong Speu,” he said.