Better prisoner management urged

via CAAI

Monday, 24 January 2011 15:01 Tep Nimol

Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana last week sent a letter to prosecutors nationwide warning them to be dutiful and file reports to the Justice Ministry to ensure the proper management of prisoners.

Justice Ministry cabinet chief Sam Brochea Meanith said yesterday that the letter was sent amid concerns about provincial prison management following the case of jailed former Ratanakkiri police chief, Yoeung Baloung, who on January 14 was permitted to leave Ratanakkiri provincial prison to attend a party and subsequently injured three people in a drunken driving crash.

“The case at Ratanakkiri is the reason the justice minister ordered all prosecutors to re-check prisoners in all prisons, both illegally and legally detained, and send reports to the ministry quickly so the ministry takes measures if necessary,” he said.

Sam Brachea Meanith said that since the letter was sent, no prosecutors had sent reports to the ministry but he expects the reports to arrive this week.

He added that the Justice Minister had ordered a separate report about Youeng Baloung.

Ratanakkiri provincial prosecutor Leav Sreng said yesterday that he sent an initial investigative report regarding Yoeung Baloung to the Justice Ministry last week.

Former Banteay Meanchey provincial prison director Nuon Vanna, was last month arrested and is currently under investigation for allegedly accepting a US$40,000 bribe in exchange for the release of a prisoner.

Banteay Meanchey provincial deputy prosecutor Ton Sihak Teches said he checked the prisoner lists on January 10 and found that more than 30 prisoners were released from the provincial prison between 2009 and 2010 without the knowledge of the court.