Prime Minister Hun Sen’s son Hun Many filed a complaint yesterday with Phnom Penh Municipal Court after he was informed that his name was being used to illegally import ambulances into the Kingdom.
According to Many’s lawyer, Ly Chan Tola, an autonomous port officer in Preah Sihanouk province told Many that his name had been used to evade import taxes on three ambulances.
“The officer suspected it and then reported it to him, because he knows His Excellency Hun Many never does this kind of act,” Chan Tola said.
Chan Tola added that a suspect had already been identified.
In a statement released yesterday, Many, Hun Sen’s youngest son and lawmaker for Kampong Speu province, called for the suspect to be found and prosecuted.
“I would like to confirm that I never allow or support the use of my name and status for illegal acts. I would like to appeal … to authorities and the court to take action against the offender seriously by law”, he said.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court officers could not be reached for comment.
Chan Soveth, a senior investigator with local rights group Adhoc, said that names of prominent political figures are regularly used to evade import taxes and other costs.
“Business people are always using the names of senior officers as their connections to defend their businesses, and if their businesses do not go through the powerful, their businesses cannot go smoothly,” he said.
