Cambodia denies spying on foreign staff at Khmer Rouge tribunal

Robert Carmicheal
Australian Network News

Cambodia's government is denying reports it is spying on foreign staff at the Khmer Rouge tribunal underway in Phnom Penh.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan (pictured) told Radio Australia that earlier media reports had misrepresented his comments.

He said his office had received files over the past three months naming some foreign tribunal staff as being involved in corruption and wrongdoing - but he stressed the allegations were solely related to professional misconduct.

"That one is the professional working area only.

"We don't want to go to the private life of the people," Mr Phay Siphan said.

He said his first step would be to verify the accusations and hopes to reinstall faith in the trial.

If the allegations are verified, he said the government would share the files with its partners in the tribunal process.

Mr Phay Siphan said he would also look at other allegations that named some people and organisations as 'enemies' of the tribunal.

The two sides have had a difficult relationship in the years-long effort to establish the tribunal.

But Mr Phay Siphan stressed Phnom Penh wants a good partnership in its efforts to try and find justice for the genocide perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge.