The director of the National Maternal and Child Health Centre has denied allegations that he mistreated employees after about 90 staff members filed a complaint against hospital management earlier this month, according to a letter received by The Post yesterday.

On August 5, doctors and midwives filed a complaint to Cambodian Red Cross president Bun Rany, who is also the wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen, accusing hospital director Kum Kanal of improper treatment of employees and alleging that two hospital accountants had embezzled millions of riel from client service fees since 2007.

In the letter received yesterday, Kum Kanal denied allegations that he had mistreated staff, but admitted that two accountants had been caught embezzling money.

The letter also stated that midwife  Kolnou Sokhalay, head of purchasing at the hospital, had been asked to resign because she had refused to follow guidance from hospital management and had provoked unrest among staff.

Kum Kanal told The Post yesterday that two accountants had embezzled client fees between March 2007 and October last year to the tune of 169,631,600 riel (US$41,495).

“We took action against the two staff who embezzled finances,” he said. “Three months ago one staff member was sent to the court and another one had to repay the total amount [they had embezzled].”

Kolnou Sokhalay said yesterday that she had agreed to resign from her position at the hospital rather than work in a corrupt environment.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng was not available for comment yesterday.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CHEANG SOKHA