Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Kingdom's judiciary perceived as most corrupt: UNDP

Kingdom's judiciary perceived as most corrupt: UNDP

Cambodia's judiciary is perceived as the country's most corrupt institution, according to a new UNDP survey.
Cambodia's judiciary is perceived as the country's most corrupt institution, according to a new UNDP survey. Pha Lina

Kingdom's judiciary perceived as most corrupt: UNDP

The judiciary is perceived as the most corrupt government institution in the Kingdom, according to a United Nations Development Programme global survey of corruption in the judiciary released on Friday.

A Transparent and Accountable Judiciary to Deliver Justice for All says that, globally, the police are viewed as the most corrupt institution, but not in Cambodia, the report found.

“In the Asia-Pacific region the judiciary is perceived as the most corrupt institution in Afghanistan and Cambodia,” the report reads.

Ministry of Justice spokesman Chhin Malin, speaking yesterday, said he “cannot give comment about this report because we have not seen details [or] its methodology”.

However, Malin acknowledged the corruption is real in the judiciary.

“We acknowledge corruption and it is in every country, but in some countries it is huge, while in other countries it is small, and we acknowledge that corruption occurs in judicial sectors.”

Nevertheless, Malin maintained Cambodia’s level of corruption is acceptable given the country’s level of development. “We are not worse than other countries in a similar phase,” he said.

Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Cambodia 150 out of 168 countries, the lowest among ASEAN countries.

Anti-Corruption Unit officials could not be reached for comment.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom