Hun Manet, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Facebook
Hun Manet, deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, reminded the Regional Military Commands, Division Commanders and all subordinate units of the Army Command to obey the law without exception and to strictly abide by the government's Covid-19 related regulations.
Hun Manet made these remarks in a voice message reviewed by The Post on April 28. His statements were issued to address actions undertaken by a military officer from a unit under the army’s infantry command who allegedly committed a crime by using the unit's mission letter to transport a group of Chinese nationals from the locked down capital even though inter-provincial travel was strictly prohibited.
"I urge all regional brigade commanders to impose strict discipline for all officers, deputies and soldiers in the units under their command to fully implement all of the government's regulations, especially those related to the lockdown,” he said.
Manet stressed that those who do not follow the orders of the Royal Government will be prosecuted according to the law because at this stage it is necessary for everyone to follow the Covid prevention measures without fail.
He said that the military will not allow a small number of soldiers to opportunistically take advantage of the privileges and respect accorded to their uniform or rank to disobey the government’s regulations.
His statements came following the arrest of the now former two-star military officer, Su Pov, along with five other military officers determined to be involved with the scheme.
They were arrested by Svay Rieng provincial police on the night of April 21 on charges of human trafficking for transporting 28 Chinese nationals from Phnom Penh to that province.
Pov stands accused of using luxury cars with military license plates to get past barricades and roadblocks to break the government’s lockdown orders, which also violated the travel ban between Phnom Penh and the provinces.
The former two-star military officer and his five accomplices were remanded to custody by the Svay Rieng provincial court on the afternoon of April 24 and will remain in prison while they await trial on three charges.
