Phnom Penh Post
By Vong Sokheng
Prince Thomico Sisowath has been told to declare his
assets within one week or face time in prison. Photograph: Heng
Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post
The Anti-Corruption Unit has threatened new opposition candidate Prince
Thomico Sisowath with prison if he fails to declare his assets within a
week, he claimed yesterday.
Thomico, a candidate for the Cambodia National Rescue Party in July’s National Election, said a letter from ACU president Om Yentieng had informed him that if he didn’t fully disclose his assets, he would face immediate legal action.
“I will not declare my assets, because the institution of the King is independent. Therefore, it should be not interfered with by the government or ACU,” he said.
The letter, dated Monday and obtained yesterday, claims that 148 royal family members and palace officials have declared their assets confidentially, leaving Thomico the only one whose details they await.
“The Anti-Corruption Unit would like to warn Prince Thomico that in case of stubbornness and an unwillingness to declare [his] assets and debts within one week . . . [he] must be punished in accordance with Article 38 of the Law on Anti-Corruption,” the letter says.
“Failure to comply with the declaration could result in a prison term of between one month and one year and fines of up to 2 million riel [$500] and will be doubled in the case that [Thomico] is stubborn.”
Thomico said he believed the letter had been issued for political reasons.
“I think the warning letter was a tool of the CPP to intimidate and put pressure on me now that I have entered politics,” said the prince, who will contest a seat in Preah Sihanouk province.
The letter had arrived in an envelope without official ACU markings, Thomico said. Sar Sambath, a permanent member of the ACU, said he was not aware of the letter and could not confirm its authenticity.
“I’m not in charge of the assets declaration department. It’s a good question to ask my president,” he said. Yentieng, however, could not be reached.
The ACU has previously said about 100,000 officials would be required to declare their assets. That number has since dropped to 25,000.
Prime Minister Hun Sen declared his assets confidentially on April 1, but later said he earned a monthly salary of $1,125.
Thomico, a candidate for the Cambodia National Rescue Party in July’s National Election, said a letter from ACU president Om Yentieng had informed him that if he didn’t fully disclose his assets, he would face immediate legal action.
“I will not declare my assets, because the institution of the King is independent. Therefore, it should be not interfered with by the government or ACU,” he said.
The letter, dated Monday and obtained yesterday, claims that 148 royal family members and palace officials have declared their assets confidentially, leaving Thomico the only one whose details they await.
“The Anti-Corruption Unit would like to warn Prince Thomico that in case of stubbornness and an unwillingness to declare [his] assets and debts within one week . . . [he] must be punished in accordance with Article 38 of the Law on Anti-Corruption,” the letter says.
“Failure to comply with the declaration could result in a prison term of between one month and one year and fines of up to 2 million riel [$500] and will be doubled in the case that [Thomico] is stubborn.”
Thomico said he believed the letter had been issued for political reasons.
“I think the warning letter was a tool of the CPP to intimidate and put pressure on me now that I have entered politics,” said the prince, who will contest a seat in Preah Sihanouk province.
The letter had arrived in an envelope without official ACU markings, Thomico said. Sar Sambath, a permanent member of the ACU, said he was not aware of the letter and could not confirm its authenticity.
“I’m not in charge of the assets declaration department. It’s a good question to ask my president,” he said. Yentieng, however, could not be reached.
The ACU has previously said about 100,000 officials would be required to declare their assets. That number has since dropped to 25,000.
Prime Minister Hun Sen declared his assets confidentially on April 1, but later said he earned a monthly salary of $1,125.
6 comments:
The chage for Thomico will be worse than Mr Sam Ransi's :
" Treason " . Hun Sen told his audience in Prey Veng that
in the 1970 Thomico was Lon Nol ' soldier . Now Thomico
who is a member of royal family , is planning to topple the
CPP & the Monarchy . Hun sen gave a hint that the arrest
of some Opposition members is imminent because the
enemies of Cambodia are hiding in the CNRP .
Your gov't system is so CHILDISH because you were trying to impose your cronism's rules on those whose doesn't like what they have seen your govt had done to poor khmers people-evicted them out of their land and bulldosed their homes sold to your cronies the THIEVES!
MR Thomico can't sit and watch what your govt imposed this childish's rules on these poor khmers people any longer thatwise he changed side to democratic party which is the right thing to do....
Maybe he [Thomico] is the only one in Royal monarchy that has a courage to changed side working on behalf of his people despite threatening from big dog of Hanoi called Hun sen.I urge all those whose loves democracy joint together vote for newly party.The rest of Royal's families sold out turn their back on their people and jointed the crooks,the THIEVES,the murderers, the rapists,the robbers to imposed CRONISM's rules on those whose doesn't agree to their greedy's pig side they [Cpp] will find the ways to give them hard time and threatening jail time like Mr Thomico or Mam Sonando or Sam Rainsy just a few example.This is gangstaer's rules on the street folks,government of Cpp run like street gangs,joint them(Cpp) you're alright,against them (Cpp) you're going to be suffered or dies....
Kmenhwatt
Thomico should prove that he is the real king above the actual king! He is a real Lon Nol-Serimatak soldier ! He is above the law!
11:53 pm, yes I read that when Hun Sen declared that 5 armed groups are planning armed insurrection against his government, he said many members of the groups hide inside the opposition parties, including one royal. I think Hun Sen hinted that that royal is Prince Thomico. Hun Sen even asked America to help arrest members of those armed groups. No one believe Hun sen, everything was made up by Hun Sen to crack down on opposition politicians and activists because he is afraid of losing the election.
Hun Sen is worse then Pol Pot. Hun Sen is a good Vietnamese dog.
pure gold never afraid of fire,
why? this guy so fear - so afraid to declare his assets,,,,
come on!, be a man,, do it, declare it,,
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