The Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has reminded former members of the now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party to declare their assets within 30 days of leaving office, saying that it had received declarations from only around 5 percent of those required to do so.
In a letter signed on Saturday, the body says it “would like to encourage those who have the obligation to announce their assets to quickly fulfil it within 30 days”. According to the announcement, only 293 CNRP members – 33 lawmakers, three former National Election Committee members and 257 commune council members – had declared their assets.
The chief of the Asset Declaration Department of the ACU, Cheng Bun Kheang, said about 5,800 CNRP officials had to declare the assets, but said the deadline depended on individual cases and when they left their jobs. “They left their jobs on different days,” he said, referring to lawmakers and commune officials.
Bun Kheang added that five more officials had declared their assets yesterday.
In a speech yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Sen also raised the issue. “Be careful of getting into prison. Just to remind you, before you start your position, you declare how much assets you have, and when you leave your position, you need to announce it as well,” he said. “If the money is surplus, where did you get it from?”
Failure to declare assets carries a penalty of one month to one year in prison, and fines of up to $500.
