Tuesday, 23 September 2008

Military Police Question 22 in Land Racket

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
22 September 2008

Khmer audio aired 22 September (10.8 MB) - Download

Military police on Monday were holding 22 people, including a senior armed forces commander, for questioning in connection to the alleged sale of state land using forged documents across Phnom Penh.

Lt. Gen. Men Vichet, deputy commander of RCAF infantry, was among those being questioned, Military Police Commander Gen. Sao Sokha said.

Others being questioning included senior government, military and police officials and land brokers, Sao Sokha said. He declined to give more specific information on the names or ranks of officials.

The men are being questioned in connection to a criminal operation in which land brokers worked closely with senior officials to falsely sell state land with forged titles, Sao Sokha said.

Gen. Meas Sophea, commander of the RCAF infantry, confirmed Monday his subordinate, Men Vichet, had been called in for questioning at military police headquarters, but he could not confirm whether the questioning was related to forged land documents.

The arrest follows a public announcement Wednesday by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who said many government officials were involved in forging land documents.

The 22 men were called in for questioning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and all of them were being held at military police headquarters on Monday, Sao Sokha said.

None has been charged, but a continuing investigation is underway, he said.

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