Vathana ‘partner’ no fan of prime minister

Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana, whose alleged co-investors in an offshore-incorporated company have a history of fraud and ruling party opposition. Heng Chivoan

A notorious fraudster with whom Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana allegedly had a business relationship has turned out to be a violent critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

A 2007 register for offshore-incorporated RCD International, obtained by the Post this week following the Panama Papers data leak, lists Vathana, who was previously a member of Hun Sen’s cabinet, and Ray Chhat Dam as major shareholders with 5,000 and 22,000 shares respectively.

Dam, who has been linked with a series of scams, was arrested with another shareholder, Dr Soush Saroeun, in 2010 for allegedly forging a letter of credit from HSBC, impersonating a UN agency and claiming Dam was an adviser to US presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama.

RCD International was dissolved in 2010 and since then, Dam has posted a series of anti-ruling party messages on his Facebook page. Yesterday, he posted images calling on the Vietnamese government to “take action” against Hun Sen, whose first name he twists into a pun on an offensive Khmer word.

RCD International’s second-largest shareholder, Dr Lek Bopha, also has ties to the government. His brother, Lek Sambonn, confirmed yesterday that Bopha was previously a cabinet adviser, and Sambonn heads a charity that has counted Information Minister Khieu Kantharith as a benefactor since 1999.

The justice minister yesterday denied having ever heard of Dam or Bopha and could not explain how Dam and Saroeun avoided jail time after their arrest in 2010. Saroeun yesterday said both were “cleared of wrongdoing” by the court with all charges dropped.

A government spokesman yesterday directed queries to the Anti-Corruption Unit, which was unreachable.

Contact author: Jack Davies

MOST VIEWED

Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO
Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in
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
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
After three deferrals, Capital Gains Tax to take effect Jan 1, 2024
The General Department of Taxation (GDT) will implement the Capital Gains Tax starting January 1, 2024 to after being deferred three times as industrial players warn that the implementation might have some negative impact on the property market growth, which is down due to the economic downturn.