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Saturday, 6 March 2010

An Austrian man left a will worth more than one million euros to the Cambodian Red Cross

A stone statue of King Javarman VII.

By Khmerization
Source: Koh Santepheap

An Austrian man has left a will worth more than 500,000 euros for the Cambodian Red Cross when he died in June 2009, reports Koh Santepheap.

Madame Men Neary Sopheak, Vice-President of the Cambodian Red Cross, said that lawyer of the dead man, Mortalich Gerhard (spelling?), had informed the Austrian Red Cross that he had left a will, 500,000 euros in cash and other assets, including a house and many collectible items, jewelry and memorabilia to the Cambodian Red Cross.

Mr. Gerhard, a famous author of many spy-thriller novels, was born in 1931, never got married and didn't have any children. He got a sister, however, no one knows why he decided to leave all his properties and assets to the Cambodian Red Cross instead of his only sister. But, when his house was inspected, all Asian artefacts, including a stone statue of the Cambodian Great King Jayavarman VII (1125 - 1215) and Asian memorabilia, including Asian diamonds, had been found displayed in his house. It was assumed that he was fond of things Asian and had visited many Asian countries, including Cambodia.

The Austrian Red cross had informed the Cambodian Red Cross of the news and told it to apply to Austrian Court to get ownership of the late Mr. Gerhard's assets.

On 3rd March, Lady Bun Rany, President of the Cambodian Red Cross and wife of Prime Minister Hun Sen, signed a document with Ms. Christiane Kapali (spelling?), Second Secretary at the German Embassy which is also representing the Austrian government.

According to estimates, the late Gerhard's assets could exceed a million euro mark when they are properly accounted for. His assets include 500,000 euros deposited in his bank account, a house, several vehicles, artefacts and collectible items, a Napoleon-era antique sword, Diamonds and jewelry and all other assets which are all left in his will for the Cambodian Red Cross.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's just going to go into the pockets of Bun Rany Hun Sen and her corrupted officials! He should of made the donations to a real charity, that would efficiently use the money to help really poor Cambodians!

Anonymous said...

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS ABOVE. SAD AND UNFORTUNITE FOR CAMBODIANS CITIZENS WHO REALLY NEEDS IT.

HE SHOULD HAVE MADE THE DONATION TO BUILT SCHOOL, HOSPITAL OR ORPHANT SHELTERS.

Anonymous said...

I think so. This money will go straight to Bun Rany and Hun Sen's pockets or it will only benefit the CPP supporters, not the real needy people. I believe the money should be donated to real charities like NGOs managed by foreign people like the many NGOS that help orphans and orphanages.

Anonymous said...

I disagree. The Austrian government and Red Cross are all well aware of the corruption problems in Cambodia. Eventhough this is a personal will and no details pertaining to clauses and caveats are released, the Austrian Red Cross would most likely not let this fortune be plundered. The Austrian court could put conditions of their own according to their laws. Also domestically there is a little round face to save, hopefully. Just giving them a benefit of a doubt. Let's hope some real good deeds come out off the money and assets that Mr. Gerhard left for the Cambodian needy people. This is our honor that a foreign citizen has done this good deed towards us. It is only the right thing that we, Cambodians, give back an honor to him. So Cambodian Red Cross, DO THE RIGHT THING and have a remembrance of Mr. Gerhard.

P.S. This is the time to honor the man not to politicize his good act.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for Mr:Gehard and the Austrian Red Cross,but please contorl all the steps what the Cambodian red Cross do!!!because the gang and the mafia Bun Rany Hun Xen is the big corrupt woman in Cambodia!!!She does everything for youn Hanoi and the CPP not for Khmer poor people!!!!