Assembly Wants Report on Released Former Police Chief

Chea Sim, center, president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, Heng Samring, rear left, the party honorary president, Hun Sen, foreground, the party's vice president and the prime minister of the Cambodian government.


National Assembly President Heng Samrin has forwarded a request to the Ministry of Interior calling for a report on the unusual release of a jailed former provincial police chief in Ratanakkiri province last month.

The former chief of that province, Yoeung Baloung, who was supposed to be serving an 13-year sentence on charges related to corruption and illegal logging, was let out by the provincial prison chief and was then involved in a traffic incident that injured three people.

In a letter to the Ministry of Interior dated Tuesday, Heng Samrin requested that the ministry report to the National Assembly the reason’s behind Yoeung Baloung’s release.

Kuy Bunsorn, the newly appointed director of prisons at the ministry, said Wednesday an investigation was conducted and a report has been written, but completion is awaiting approval by Minister of Interior Sar Kheng.

Ratanakkiri prison director Ngin Nhel has said he authorized the release for medical reasons. Yoeung Baloung is now back in the prison, officials say.