Group’s claim of NEC graft rejected by ACU

Anti-Corruption Unit president Om Yentieng speaks during a meeting yesterday. Hong Menea

Group’s claim of NEC graft rejected by ACU

Tue, 7 June 2016 ppp

Lay Samean

The Anti-Corruption Unit yesterday rejected a complaint from an NGO alleging National Election Committee officials were guilty of corruption when the body’s staff shifted from being independent contractors to government officials.

Appearing before the ACU, Ros Sarom, director of Victory Intelligent Standard Association, which claims to represent 10,000 intellectuals, government officials and NGO workers, said contract workers moved up to become relatively high ranking government officials after the February change of NEC staff’s employment status.

He also alleged that senior NEC officials, following their inclusion into the government fold, purchased large houses, but had no evidence to back his claims.

“First, the NEC must make a report [on the employment status change] to all Cambodians,” he said. “Second, if the NEC thinks what I am doing is defamation, then file a complaint against me.”

After the interview, ACU boss Om Yentieng said the body would not take up the case as it lacked any clear evidence.

“If that is your presentation, I think that there is little evidence that allows us to receive your complaint for further investigation,” Yentieng said.

He added that it wasn’t uncommon for contract workers to skip a few promotions after becoming government officials, and if that was the basis of the complaint it was more a public policy issue and not related to corruption.