Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Purported leaks distributed

Purported leaks distributed

Prime Minister Hun Sen's middle son, Hun Manith, speaks at an event in February. Photo supplied
Prime Minister Hun Sen's middle son, Hun Manith, speaks at an event in February. Photo supplied

Purported leaks distributed

Former opposition leader Sam Rainsy yesterday distributed a trove of purportedly leaked text messages sent and received by, among others, members of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s family, tycoons and cabinet ministers, with some of the messages – if true – appearing to show questionable dealings between political and business elites.

The text messages, which were forwarded to The Post by Rainsy yesterday, contain 20 logs of conversations accessed from September to February. Those named include all of the members of the Hun family – first lady Bun Rany and all five Hun children – save Hun Sen himself, as well as three sons of Deputy Prime Minister Sok An.

Also included in the leaks are Minister of Transportation Sun Chanthol and Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith, not to mention Rainsy himself.

While the full content of the logs could not be fully verified, The Post was able to independently confirm the authenticity of several messages contained in the lists, including two from a Post reporter to Sok An’s son, Sok Puthyvuth, which appeared verbatim in the logs.

The purported messages seem to be contained in computer-generated logs containing the sender’s and receiver’s phone numbers, and in some cases their names, a date and time, and the contents of these texts.

Since the most damning material could not be adequately verified yesterday, The Post has refrained from reproducing the content of the messages in detail.

However, along with mundane personal chitchat, the logs also include conversations between a television news pundit and a member of Hun Sen’s family discussing electoral strategies and a businessman asking a casino operator for cash to keep his company afloat.

But despite distributing the logs, Rainsy yesterday said in an email that he would not “take part – in one way or another – in this despicable game for very cheap people”.

Indeed the opposition has found itself the target of a months-long campaign of purported leaked personal phone conversations intended to damage the reputations of many of its top leaders. The barrage started last year with a cache of recordings purporting to show acting opposition president Kem Sokha speaking to a mistress.

The leaks ultimately saw Sokha effectively go into self-imposed house arrest to avoid a conviction – widely considered politically motivated, and ultimately pardoned stemming from the recordings.

The anti-opposition leaks have drawn criticism for what observers have characterised as a dirty-tricks smear campaign, one that has also raised questions of illegal wiretapping.

But having received the leaks from an anonymous Gmail address, Rainsy yesterday said he simply found the leaks in his inbox, and that he did not “know the sender” and didn’t care.

Rainsy declined to confirm the authenticity of text messages in French linked to his phone number or to discuss whether it was inappropriate for him to be distributing such leaks after his own former party had been so battered by illegally obtained materials.

Asked why he chose to forward unverified leaks via email to multiple recipients, Rainsy said, “I wanted to get rid of them and let other people do whatever they want with this kind of stuff.”

CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann, who was also forwarded the leaks by Rainsy, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

However, government and ruling officials seemed unaware of the leaks yesterday. Defence Ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat refused to comment on the issue saying it was beyond his “duty” and “capability”.

The Interior Ministry’s Khieu Sopheak said he would have to look into the case , and Cambodian People Party spokesman Sok Eysan said if there were any affected individuals from the leaks they should approach the court and authorities to initiate an investigation.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former