Cambodia’s ambassador to South Korea charged with corruption [peal si peal]

Cambodia’s ambassador to South Korea charged with corruption

South China Morning Post / AP | 7 April 2016

Suth Dina used to be an opponent of Hun Sen’s government, but joined the ruling party in 2009.

Associated Press

Cambodia’s ambassador to South Korea was charged on Thursday with corruption related offences, with investigators saying his assets increased by US$3 million during his two years as envoy.

Suth Dina appeared at Phnom Penh Municipal Court to hear charges of embezzlement, which carries a prison term of two to five years, and abuse of power, punishable by a five to 10-year term.

The ambassador, who was arrested on Monday, has denied any wrongdoing. “My arrest is unjust,” he said to reporters as he entered the court.

Cambodia has a reputation as one of Asia’s most corrupt countries. The problem is a political liability for long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, whose Cambodian People’s Party fended off an unexpectedly strong challenge in the 2013 general election.

Suth Dina used to be an opponent of Hun Sen’s government, but joined the ruling party in 2009.

A statement from the government’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) said an investigation had found that Suth Dina had US$7.2 million in cash – an increase from US$4.2 million when his ambassadorial appointment began in February 2014 – and almost 13kg of gold, worth about US$500,000.

"My arrest is unjust" 
- Former ambassador Suth Dina

The head of the Anti-Corruption Unit, Om Yentieng, said at a news conference that Suth Dina had embezzled US$180,000 from the embassy in Seoul, while the source of his other assets was not yet clear, but they could be seized if found to be illegally gained.

The ACU sent investigators in March to South Korea, where thousands of Cambodians work. Suth Dina was chastised soon after taking up his job by then-Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who declared he must stop allowing his relatives to interfere with the embassy’s affairs.

Last year, Suth Dina played a prominent role in warning Cambodian workers in Korea to stay away from meetings held by Cambodian opposition leaders, or risk losing their jobs and being repatriated.