“We
[ACU officials] received orders from the upper level not to investigate because
he [Mr. Yentieng] wanted to solve the problem out of court. The ACU just made a
contract with those people to pay back the Global Fund and put an end to the
problem.”
Anonymous senior ACU official familiar with the case, 26 March
2014
“[The NACC] listened to the reports
carefully on the advice of the ACU and the allegations made by the Global Fund.
Due to the speed of the effective investigation of the ACU, the NACC believes
the case will be finished soon.”
National Anti-Corruption Council (NACC), statement issued on 30
January 2014
“If we send this case to court the evidence
is not enough, so our reputation will be damaged and the Global Fund’s too. So
we need to defend their reputation, and the government would also be
criticized, then how could the people trust the government anymore?... I ask
you [reporters] not to publish about this case. If you do, I will not talk with
any of you because this is a secret matter.”
Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) president Om Yentieng, 24 March 2014
How does
anti-corruption work in the Land of Wonders? It depends... First, the NACC that
oversees the work of the Anti-Corruption Unit may have no idea what its unit up
to, if not misguided. In the Global Fund case, for instance, Om Yentieng
commands so much NACC confidence that he does have a free reign in dealing with
corruption.
Second,
according to Om Yentieng, the Global Fund evidence is so weak that there is no
need to have it tested in court. If effect, it is not even strong enough to
prompt him to conduct any independent investigation into the allegation.
Nonetheless,
the funny thing is – with his presumption that no one is guilty in the case –
Om Yentieng is convinced enough to sneak behind close door to get alleged
corrupt officials to pay the Global Fund back the loots. It is a secret
manoeuvring under the table that Om Yentieng does so well to give all
well-connected a win-win outcome, a favourite catchphrase of his CPP prime
minister.
By not taking
the Global Fund allegations to court, Om Yentieng wants to protect the
reputation of the CPP government and the Global Fund. It is not certain what
type of CPP government reputation Om Yentieng is upholding, but it is doubtful
whether the Global Fund needs the ACU protection. The Global Fund would be
silly to release any sloppy report and risk damaging their reputation.
Back on the
table, Om Yentieng’s ACU has to flex their muscle somehow to show that the CPP
government is tough on corruption, which their anxious supporters are dying to
see.
Consistent
with the CPP modus operandi, it is the weak and the not-so-well-connected that
must bear the brunt of the ACU public relations show. Om Yentieng and the
education minister are amassing volunteers to oversee forthcoming high school
exams at more than 4,000 test sites so that, they say, they can jail any students
for cheating. In the past few months, the ACU has been very active, arresting
scores of government officers they allege are involved in corruption; none of
them are given any chance of paying back the loots. All of them are either
retired or work at provincial and district levels – three in Banteay Meanchey,
one tax official in Siem Reap, a district police chief and his deputy in
Kampot, two Electricite du Cambodge officials in Mondulkiri, and one custom
official in Preah Sihanouk province. The casualty list reads like who is who of
small potatoes.
Due to the
anti-corruption double standard the ACU plays, it is far from certain if those
lowly officials are really guilty of anything, besides not belonging to any
worthwhile personal interest group. Nonetheless, some must be pawns that can be
sacrificed to cover up something sinister.
This ACU fiddle-faddle at the bottom may give some naïve soul
an impression and comfort that it is very clean at the top. Other hopeful
supporters believe Om Yentieng can clean the Land of Wonders from the bottom
step upwards.
Ung Bun Ang
20iv14
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