Investigation of Tribunal Officers Underway

By Kong Sothanarith, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh Municipal Court has begun investigating alleged corruption by administrators of the Khmer Rouge tribunal, officials confirmed Monday.

“We’ve started investigating,” deputy prosecutor Sok Kallyan said. “One person has been summoned for questioning. We will summon more persons soon.”

The investigation comes at the behest of tribunal defense lawyers for Nuon Chea, who filed a complaint earlier this month alleging Sean Visoth, the top administrator of the tribunal, and Keo Thyvuth, its former chief of personnel, had engaged in or abetted institutional corruption.

Sean Visoth, who has been on medical leave since November, declined to comment Monday and did not say when he would return to his duties.

Keo Thyvuth was removed from his position at the tribunal in August 2008 and is now on staff at the Council of Ministers.

The Khmer Rouge tribunal, which is preparing for its first trial of five jailed leaders of the regime, for prison chief Duch, has been plagued by reports from Cambodian employees and independent monitors who claim staff members paid kickbacks in order to work at the courts.