Corruption Unit Cock-up

Cambodia recently established an anti-corruption Unit. The unit has already uncovered instances of corrupt government officials- like shooting fish in a barrel, really- but they are refusing to push for prosecutions until the end of next year. That's right next year.

Om Yentieng, chairman of the Unit reckons that prosecutions aren't possible until new anti-corruption laws come into effect. Really? Would he seriously have us believe that there are absolutely no existing laws that he could use to bring charges.

Yim Savann of the Sam Rainsy Party thinks that ain't so- corrupt officials can easily be charged under the existing UNTAC criminal code, he says.

"What they (the government) has done, is to try to show that they are serious about curbing corruption, but in fact they have not done anything," he said.

That's a bit harsh, Yim. Apparently the Unit is going to write to the affected government departments and ask that offenders be subjected to 'administrative punishments.' Whatever that is. Sounds like the proverbial slap over the wrist with a wet bus ticket, to me.